System and method for transferring data over a network

• US 6,920,110 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reus, Edward F., Roberts, Jeffrey S., Zoran, Michael D., Evans, Stephen Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHO, HONG SOL
• Application Number:
  US09/783,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 370235-236, 370252-253, 370/352, 370/230, 370/401, 709/217, 709/224, 709/232
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5093 wherein the managed service relates to messaging or chat services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method is provided for transferring a set of data over a network by monitoring the level of actual bandwidth utilization. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculating a size for data blocks to be transferred as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization. The data blocks represent a segment of a set of data, such as a software update that may be transferred or downloaded over the network without interfering with other network activity at the network interface. The size of the data blocks are bounded by a maximum and minimum threshold value. Computed block sizes allow effective utilization of the network bandwidth while also allowing an adaptation that supports a degree of responsiveness both on fast and slow networks.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a set of data over a network, the method comprising:

monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization;

identifying a maximum monitored level of actual utilization;

calculating a block size for a portion of the set of data to transfer as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization, wherein said block size is adjusted according to said maximum level of actual utilization, the method comprising;

bounding said block size between a maximum threshold value and a minimum threshold value; and

receiving said block size portion of the Set of data over the network at one or more intervals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said maximum threshold is a function of available memory in the receiving device, and wherein said minimum threshold is determined based on network packet header size.

3. A method of transferring a set of data over a network, the method comprising:

monitoring the level of actual network bandwidth utilization;

identifying a maximum monitored level of actual utilization;

calculating a block size for a portion of the set of data to transfer as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization;

receiving said block size portion of the set of data over the network at one or more intervals;

increasing the size of the intervals when said block size is below a minimum threshold; and

decreasing the size of the intervals when said block size exceeds a maximum threshold.

4. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon one or more data structures, comprising:

a first data field containing data representing a timestamp of when the level of actual network bandwidth utilization was monitored; and

a second data field containing data representing a quantity of data that had passed through the network interface at a time corresponding to said time stamp.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein network utilization is calculated based on the difference in values between a first data structure and a second data structure.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the actual network bandwidth utilization is monitored at an interface between a client machine and the network.

7. A method for computing block sizes in the transfer of a see of data over a network comprising:

obtaining a network utilization rate at a plurality of intervals;

computing an average of said network utilization rates, wherein said computed average is weighted by allocating a higher ratio to the more recently obtained network utilization rate; and

computing a block size for a portion of the set of data to transfer during said intervals as a function of said average.

8. A method for computing block sizes in the transfer of a set of data over a network comprising:

obtaining a network utilization rate at a plurality of intervals;

computing an average of said network utilization rates; and

computing a block size for a portion of the set of data to transfer during said intervals as a function of said average, wherein said block size is directly proportional to the product of said average, the size of said interval and network availability.

9. A method for computing block sizes in the transfer of a set of data over a network comprising;

obtaining a network utilization rate at a plurality of intervals;

computing an average of said network utilization rates; and

computing a block size for a portion of the set of the data to transfer during said intervals as a function of said average, wherein said intervals have a size that is adjusted based on said computed block size.