Fast dynamic measurement of connection bandwidth using at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics
First Claim
1. A method for measuring bandwidth between two entities on a communications network, the method comprising:
- via a communications network, receiving at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics;
calculating bandwidth based upon, measurable characteristics of at least the pair of non-compressible packets; and
determining if the calculated bandwidth is outside a given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, a low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and a high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps;
if the calculated bandwidth is determined to be outside the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth;
disregarding the calculated bandwidth; and
querying a modem of an entity about a bandwidth setting of the modem.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The fast dynamic measurement of connection bandwidth utilizes a single pair of packets to calculate bandwidth between two entities on a network (such as the Internet). This calculation is based upon the packet-pair technique. This bandwidth measurement is extremely quick. On its journey across a network, communication equipment and modems may compress a packet. This compression shrinks the size of the packet; thus, it can distort the bandwidth calculation using such a shrunken packet. To avoid this distortion, the fast dynamic measurement of connection bandwidth employs non-compressible packets. More specifically, it employs highly entropic packets. Therefore, a packet cannot be compressed during its journey. In addition, on its journey across a network, packets may be rerouted, delayed, misrouted, and the like. These momentary delays may result in a momentary bad bandwidth calculation. This problem is ameliorated by using a history list at the client that keeps track of recent measurements. The client returns the median of that list to the server. That median is the specified bandwidth.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for measuring bandwidth between two entities on a communications network, the method comprising:
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via a communications network, receiving at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics; calculating bandwidth based upon, measurable characteristics of at least the pair of non-compressible packets; and determining if the calculated bandwidth is outside a given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, a low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and a high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps;if the calculated bandwidth is determined to be outside the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; disregarding the calculated bandwidth; and querying a modem of an entity about a bandwidth setting of the modem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for measuring bandwidth between two entities on a dynamic network, the method comprising:
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via a dynamic network, sending at least a pair of non-compressible packets, the dynamic network being a communications network having no assurance that both packets of a pair of identical packets are handled in an identical manner while in transit on the communications network; receiving a bandwidth value determined based upon measurements related to at least the pair of non-compressible packets, and consideration of a given range of believability related to calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability related to calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, a low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and a high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps;selecting a file formatted for a given bandwidth that is equal to or less than the bandwidth value; and sending the selected file via the dynamic network. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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via a communications network, receiving at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics; calculating bandwidth based upon, measurable characteristics of at least the pair of non-compressible packets; and determining if the calculated bandwidth is outside a given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, if the calculated bandwidth is determined to be outside the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; setting a bandwidth to a low-believability threshold if the calculated bandwidth is below the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; and setting a bandwidth to a high-believability threshold if the calculated bandwidth is above the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, the low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and the high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer processor, implement a method for measuring bandwidth between two entities on a communications network, the method comprising:
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via a communications network, receiving at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics; calculating bandwidth based upon, measurable characteristics of at least the pair of non-compressible packets; and determining if the calculated bandwidth is outside a given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, a low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and a high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps;if the calculated bandwidth is determined to be outside the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; disregarding the calculated bandwidth; and querying a modem of an entity about a bandwidth setting of the modem. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer processor, implement a method for measuring bandwidth between two entities on a communications network, the method comprising:
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via a dynamic network, sending at least a pair of non-compressible packets, the dynamic network being a communications network having no assurance that both packets of a pair of identical packets are handled in an identical manner while in transit on the communications network; receiving a bandwidth value determined based upon measurements related to at least the pair of non-compressible packets, and consideration of a given range of believability related to calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability related to calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, a low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and a high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps;selecting a file formatted for a given bandwidth that is equal to or less than the bandwidth value; and sending the selected file via the dynamic network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer processor, implement a method, comprising:
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via a communications network, receiving at least a pair of non-compressible packets having measurable characteristics; calculating bandwidth based upon, measurable characteristics of at least the pair of non-compressible packets; and determining if the calculated bandwidth is outside a given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, if the calculated bandwidth is determined to be outside the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; setting a bandwidth to a low-believability threshold if the calculated bandwidth is below the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth; and setting a bandwidth to a high-believability threshold if the calculated bandwidth is above the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth, wherein the given range of believability for calculated bandwidth is 24.4 Kbps–
1 Mbps, the low-believability threshold is 24.4 Kbps and the high-believability threshold is 1 Mbps. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification