Method and apparatus for managing congestion in a data communication network
First Claim
1. A method of managing data congestion and contention at a point-of-traffic concentration within a network, comprising:
- reading a first time value within the header of an Internet Protocol datagram, wherein the first time value is representative of when the Internet Protocol datagram entered the network, wherein the Internet Protocol datagram includes a datagram identification portion, wherein the first time value is included in the datagram identification portion and at least partially distinguishes the Internet Protocol datagram from other Internet Protocol datagrams;
determining the age of the Internet Protocol datagram relative to the first time value; and
discarding the Internet Protocol datagram if the age of the Internet Protocol datagram is above a threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing data congestion and/or contention occurring at a point-of-traffic concentration. The method includes reading a time value associated with a data packet, the time value being representative of when the data packet entered the network. The time value is within the header of the data packet. The age of the data packet is determined from the time value. The data packet is discarded if the age of the data packet is above a threshold value. Alternatively, a first time value determined from a time reference is associated with a data packet at a first node. The data packet is transmitted to a second node and the first time value is compared to a second time value to provide a result. The second time value is also determined from the time reference. The data packet is discarded if the result exceeds a threshold value.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of managing data congestion and contention at a point-of-traffic concentration within a network, comprising:
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reading a first time value within the header of an Internet Protocol datagram, wherein the first time value is representative of when the Internet Protocol datagram entered the network, wherein the Internet Protocol datagram includes a datagram identification portion, wherein the first time value is included in the datagram identification portion and at least partially distinguishes the Internet Protocol datagram from other Internet Protocol datagrams; determining the age of the Internet Protocol datagram relative to the first time value; and discarding the Internet Protocol datagram if the age of the Internet Protocol datagram is above a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A base station controller operatively coupled to a backhaul for transmitting an Internet Protocol datagram, the base station controller comprising:
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a communication link operatively coupled with a base transceiver station, the communication link adapted to receive an Internet Protocol datagram that includes a header having a datagram identification portion; a closed local area network; a timing element operatively coupled with the communication link, the time element adapted to provide a time reference; a time-stamping element operatively coupled to the communication link, the time-stamping element adapted to associate a time value representative of when the Internet Protocol datagram enters the closed local area network from the timing element into the header, wherein the time value is included in the datagram identification portion and at least partially distinguishes the Internet Protocol datagram from other Internet Protocol datagrams; a data queue adapted to temporarily store the Internet Protocol datagram prior to transmission to the backhaul; and a data management element adapted to read the time value from the datagram identification portion of the header, wherein the data management element is further adapted to discard Internet Protocol datagrams having a time value that exceeds an allowable threshold based at least in part on the time reference. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A base transceiver station configured to communicate with the one or more mobile stations, the base transceiver station comprising:
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a radio transceiver for receiving signals from the one or more mobile stations, wherein the radio transceiver provides Internet Protocol datagrams representing data from the one or more mobile stations, wherein each of the Internet Protocol datagrams includes a datagram identification portion in a header; a closed local area network; a communication link operatively coupled with a timing element, the communication link adapted to receive a time reference from the timing element; a time-stamping element operatively coupled to the radio transceiver, the time-stamping element adapted to associate a time value representative of when the Internet Protocol datagram enters the closed area network from the timing element into each header provided by the radio transceiver, wherein the time value is included in the datagram identification portion and at least partially distinguishes the Internet Protocol datagram from the other Internet Protocol datagrams; a data queue adapted to temporarily store the Internet Protocol datagrams prior to transmission to the base station controller; and a data management element adapted to read the time value from the datagram identification portion of the header, wherein the data management element is further adapted to discard Internet Protocol datagrams having a time value that exceeds an allowable threshold based at least in part on the time reference. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of managing a plurality of fragments of an Internet Protocol datagram at an intended destination of the Internet Protocol datagram, the method comprising:
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receiving a first one of the plurality of fragments and a time value associated therewith, the time value being common to each of the plurality of fragments, wherein the Internet Protocol datagram includes a datagram identification portion, wherein the datagram identification portion is present in each of the plurality of fragments, wherein the time value is included in the datagram identification portion of each of the plurality of fragments; reading a time value; determining an age of the Internet Protocol datagram based on the time value; and discarding the first one of the plurality of fragments if not all of the plurality of fragments of the Internet Protocol datagram have been received within a predefined time threshold, wherein the predefined time threshold is based at least in part on the age of the Internet Protocol datagram. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification