Methods and systems for optimizing data transmission in networks

• US 6,865,151 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Saunders, Ross Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stevens, Roberta A
• Application Number:
  US09/604,770
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/231, 370/23, 370/232, 370/235, 370/235.1, 370/238, 370/252, 370/253
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]

Abstract

An embodiment includes an admission control program of a router in a transmission system. A router includes a dither signal (a periodic timing signal) at a frequency causing the IP flow to organize into a periodic and deterministic pattern. The frequency is selected to maximize IP flow rate. Multiple, independent input paths may be combined into a single output path using the dither signal to regulate when the paths are alternately combined into the single output path.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data between a first router and a second router within a network, comprising the steps of:

selecting a frequency for a dither signal that maximizes a flow rate of the network;

switching between two sources of the data within the first router at the selected frequency to transmit the data to the second router from the first router;

determining an arrival time that the data will arrive at the second router; and

placing the second router in an open state before the arrival time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting step further comprises:

varying a dither time as a function of the flow rate; and

determining the frequency that maximizes the flow rate as the selected frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining a distance between the first router and the second router;

determining a time required for the data to travel between the first router and the second router; and

determining an arrival time based on the time required.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the arrival time is calculated using a location positioning receiver.

5. A method for transmitting data through a routing element of a network, comprising the steps of:

generating a periodic dither signal to regulate the transmission of data through the routing element;

alternatively transmitting from a first source of data and from a second source of data in response to the periodic dither signal; and

placing a next routing element in an open state based upon an anticipated arrival time for the transmitted data from the first source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data have different input paths to the routing element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data comprise different groups of data that exhibit a low correlation characteristic to each other.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data comprise different groups of data that are independent and uncorrelated to each other.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the periodic signal at a pre-selected frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pre-selected frequency is a frequency that maximizes flow rate.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the anticipated arrival time is based on distance to the next routing element.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the anticipated arrival time is based on travel time for data on communication link structure between the routing element and the next routing element.

13. A routing element for transmitting data within a network, comprising:

a dither signal generator for generating a timing signal for alternating between a plurality of data sources at a frequency selected for maximizing a flow rate of data transmission from the routing element to a next routing element within the network;

an admission control device responsive to the timing signal and for transmitting the data from the data sources; and

a distance measuring device for determining a distance the data must travel to the next routing element within the network and an arrival time of the data at the next routing element based on the distance, the distance and the arrival time being provided to the dither signal generator for use when placing the next routing element in an open state based upon the arrival time of the data.

14. The routing element of claim 13, wherein the admission control device is capable of transmitting the data that further comprises a first packet from one of the data sources and a second, uncorrelated packet from another of the data sources, the second packet being transmitted over the same path as the first packet and being offset in time from the first packet.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the distance measuring device is a location positioning receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the location positioning receiver is an global positioning system.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of data sources comprise different input paths to the routing element.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of data sources comprise different groups of data that exhibit a low correlation characteristic to each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of data sources comprise different groups of data that are independent and uncorrelated to each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the timing signal is periodic.

21. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for transmitting data through a routing element within a network comprising the steps of:

generating a periodic dither signal to regulate the transmission of data through the routing element;

alternatively transmitting from a first source of data and from a second source of data in response to the periodic dither signal; and

placing a next routing element in an open state based upon an anticipated arrival time for transmitted data from the first source.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data have different input paths to the routing element.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data comprise different groups of data that exhibit a low correlation characteristic to each other.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the first source of data and the second source of data comprise different groups of data that are independent and uncorrelated to each other.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the generating step further comprises generating the periodic signal at a pre-selected frequency.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the pre-selected frequency is a frequency that maximizes flow rate.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the anticipated arrival time is based on distance to the next routing element.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the anticipated arrival time is based on travel time for data on communication link structure between the routing element and the next routing element.