Quality of service using multiple flows

• US 9,143,455 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Silver Peak Systems Incorporated (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Hughes, David Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILE, FEBEN
• Application Number:
  US14/248,188
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/225, 370/229, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/236, 370/241, 370/248, 370/252, 370/254, 370/255, 370/256
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2491 Mapping quality of service [QoS] requirements between different networks

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program are provided for quality of service using multiple flows. At a first digital device, a plurality of inter-computer flows is established between the first digital device and a computer. A plurality of inter-device flows is also established between the first digital device and a second digital device via a communication network. At least one flow metric associated with each of the inter-device flows is determined, which may include, for example, a latency metric, a loss metric, and/or a re-ordering metric. According to various embodiments, flow metrics may form a basis for categorizing the inter-device flows. One or more preferred flows are selected based on the flow metrics. Finally, a packet to be sent to the second device is directed to one of the preferred flows.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing by a first digital device, a plurality of inter-computer flows between the first digital device and a computer;

establishing by a first digital device, a plurality of inter-device flows between the first digital device and a second digital device, the first digital device in communication with the second digital device via a communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device overriding influence associated with transferring packets across the communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device being only concerned with the plurality of inter-device flows themselves;

receiving a data packet at the first digital device via at least one of the plurality of inter-computer flows;

determining at least one flow metric associated with each of the plurality of inter-device flows, wherein the at least one flow metric is iteratively determined;

classifying each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the at least one flow metric;

selecting a preferred inter-device flow from the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the classification of the inter-device flows;

amending header information on the data packet based at least in part on the selected preferred inter-device flow;

directing the amended data packet to be sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow;

updating the at least one flow metric based at least in part on the directed amended packet sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow; and

updating the classification of each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the updated at least one flow metric.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the amended data packet at the second digital device; and

restoring the data packet header to its original form as received by the first digital device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting preferred inter-device flows from the plurality of inter-device flows is further based on characteristics of the data packet to be directed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the flow metrics comprises receiving one or more flow-health packets from the second digital device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow metrics are determined, at least in part, from previously directed packets and previously received packets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow metrics comprise a latency metric.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow metrics comprise a loss metric.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow metrics comprise a reordering metric.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first digital device is a network memory digital device, a router, or a computer.

10. A system comprising:

a first digital device configured to;

establish a plurality of inter-computer flows between the first digital device and a computer;

establish a plurality of inter-device flows between the first digital device and a second digital device, the first digital device in communication with the second digital device via a communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device overriding influence associated with transferring packets across the communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device being only concerned with the plurality of inter-device flows themselves;

receive a data packet at the first digital device via at least one of the plurality of inter computer flows;

determine at least one flow metric associated with each of the plurality of inter-device flows, wherein the at least one flow metric is iteratively determined;

classify each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the at least one flow metric;

select a preferred inter-device flow from the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the classification of the inter-device flows;

amend header information on the data packet based at least in part on the selected preferred inter-device flow;

direct the amended data packet to be sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow;

update the at least one flow metric based at least in part on the directed amended packet sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow; and

update the classification of each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the updated at least one flow metric.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second digital device is further configured to receive the amended data packet, and restore the data packet to its original form as received by the first digital device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first digital device is further configured to select preferred inter-device flows from the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on characteristics of the data packet to be directed.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first digital device is further configured to determine the flow metrics, in part, by receiving one or more flow-health packets from the second digital device.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor for performing a method, the method comprising:

at a first digital device;

establishing by the first digital device, a plurality of inter-computer flows between the first digital device and a computer;

establishing by the first digital device, a plurality of inter-device flows between the first digital device and a second digital device, the first digital device in communication with the second digital device via a communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device overriding influence associated with transferring packets across the communication network, the first digital device and the second digital device being only concerned with the plurality of inter-device flows themselves;

receiving a data packet at the first digital device via at least one of the plurality of inter-computer flows;

determining at least one flow metric associated with each of the plurality of inter-device flows, wherein the at least one flow metric is iteratively determined;

classifying each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the at least one flow metric;

selecting a preferred inter-device flow from the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the classification of the inter-device flows;

amending header information on the data packet based at least in part on the selected preferred inter-device flow;

directing the amended data packet to be sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow;

updating the at least one flow metric based at least in part on the directed amended packet sent by the first digital device to the second digital device via the selected preferred inter-device flow; and

updating the classification of each of the plurality of inter-device flows based at least in part on the updated at least one flow metric.