Methods and apparatus for ECN receiver driven congestion control

• US 9,143,457 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Leung, Nikolai Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): COX, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/252,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/236, 370/237
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/17 Interaction among intermediate nodes, e.g. hop by hop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/31 by tagging of packets, e.g. using discard eligibility [DE] bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing congestion notification and control across a network. In certain aspects, a protocol for managing sender and receiver-based congestion control is provided using a format for streaming parameters, such as the Session Description Protocol format. In certain aspects, a system and method for operating an interworking gateway between different user devices is provided.

Claims

1. An interworking gateway for controlling data congestion, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive a first plurality of messages from a first device, the first plurality of messages in compliance with a first congestion control mode, the first congestion control mode comprising at least one of a first sender-driven or a first receiver-driven congestion control;

receive a second plurality of messages from a second device, the second plurality of messages in compliance with a second congestion control mode, the second congestion control mode comprising one of a second sender-driven or a second receiver-driven congestion control; and

emulate either the first or the second congestion control mode when communicating messages from one of the first or second devices in one of the first or second congestion control modes to the other of the first or second devices in the other of the first or second congestion control modes.

2. The interworking gateway of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive the first plurality of messages by receiving at least one of an ECN feedback message or a rate request message from the first device.

3. The interworking gateway of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message and to resend data received at a first data rate from one of the first or second devices to the other of the first or second devices at a second data rate.

4. The interworking gateway of claim 3, wherein the first data rate and the second data rate are different.

5. The interworking gateway of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the ECN feedback message, wherein the processor is further configured to modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by transmitting the rate request message, and wherein the rate request message is generated based on the ECN feedback message.

6. The interworking gateway of claim 5, wherein the ECN feedback message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode and the transmitted rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode.

7. The interworking gateway of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message from the first device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a receiver-driven congestion control link.

8. The interworking gateway of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a message to the second device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a sender-driven congestion control link.

9. The interworking gateway of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, and wherein the processor is further configured to modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by intercepting the rate request message to the second device.

10. The interworking gateway of claim 9, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

11. The interworking gateway of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the processor is further configured to modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by transmitting the ECN feedback message, and wherein the ECN feedback message is generated based on the rate request message.

12. The interworking gateway of claim 11, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

13. A method for controlling data congestion, the method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of messages from a first device, the first plurality of messages in compliance with a first congestion control mode, the first congestion control mode comprising at least one of a first sender-driven or a first receiver-driven congestion control;

receiving a second plurality of messages from a second device, the second plurality of messages in compliance with a second congestion control mode, the second congestion control mode comprising one of a second sender-driven or a second receiver-driven congestion control, the first congestion control mode not operable with the second congestion control mode; and

emulating either the first or the second congestion control mode when communicating messages from one of the first or second devices in one of the first or second congestion control modes to the other of the first or second devices in the other of the first or second congestion control modes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the first plurality of messages comprises receiving at least one of an ECN feedback message or a rate request message from the first device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising modifying the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message and resending data received at a first data rate from one of the first or second devices to the other of the first or second devices at a second data rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data rate and the second data rate are different.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the ECN feedback message, wherein the modifying of the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises transmitting the rate request message, and wherein the rate request message is generated based on the ECN feedback message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ECN feedback message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode and the transmitted rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a message from the first device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a receiver-driven congestion control link.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a message to the second device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a sender-driven congestion control link.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the modifying of the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises intercepting the rate request message to the second device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the modifying of the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises transmitting the ECN feedback message, and wherein the ECN feedback message is generated based on the rate request message.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computer system to:

receive a first plurality of messages from a first device, the first plurality of messages in compliance with a first congestion control mode, the first congestion control mode comprising at least one of a first sender-driven or a first receiver-driven congestion control;

receive a second plurality of messages from a second device, the second plurality of messages in compliance with a second congestion control mode, the second congestion control mode comprising one of a second sender-driven or a second receiver-driven congestion control, the first congestion control mode not operable with the second congestion control mode; and

emulate either the first or the second congestion control mode when communicating messages from one of the first or second devices in one of the first or second congestion control modes to the other of the first or second devices in the other of the first or second congestion control modes.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to:

receive the first plurality of messages comprises receiving at least one of an ECN feedback message or a rate request message from the first device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to:

modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message and resend data received at a first data rate from one of the first or second devices to the other of the first or second devices at a second data rate.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the first data rate and the second data rate are different.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the ECN feedback message, wherein the medium further has stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by transmitting the rate request message, and wherein the rate request message is generated based on the ECN feedback message.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the ECN feedback message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode and the transmitted rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to:

receive a message from the first device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a receiver-driven congestion control link.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, further having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one computer system to:

transmit a message to the second device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a sender-driven congestion control link.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the medium further has stored thereon instructions that, when executed, modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by intercepting the rate request message to the second device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the rate request message is compliant with the receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the medium further has stored thereon instructions that, when executed, modify the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message by transmitting the ECN feedback message, and wherein the ECN feedback message is generated based on the rate request message.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

37. An interworking gateway for controlling data congestion, comprising:

means for receiving a first plurality of messages from a first device, the first plurality of messages in compliance with a first congestion control mode, the first congestion control mode comprising at least one of a first sender-driven or a first receiver-driven congestion control;

means for receiving a second plurality of messages from a second device, the second plurality of messages in compliance with a second congestion control mode, the second congestion control mode comprising one of a second sender-driven or a second receiver-driven congestion control, the first congestion control mode not operable with the second congestion control mode; and

means for emulating either the first or the second congestion control mode when communicating messages from one of the first or second devices in one of the first or second congestion control modes to the other of the first or second devices in the other of the first or second congestion control modes.

38. The interworking gateway of claim 37, wherein the means for receiving the first plurality of messages comprises a first receiver, the means for receiving the second plurality of messages comprises a second receiver, and the means for emulating comprises a computer system.

39. The interworking gateway of claim 37, further comprising:

means for modifying at least one of the ECN feedback message or a rate request message; and

means for resending data received at a first data rate from one of the first or second devices to the other of the first or second devices at a second data rate.

40. The interworking gateway of claim 39, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the ECN feedback message, wherein the means for modifying comprises means for transmitting the rate request message, and wherein the rate request message is generated based on the ECN feedback message.

41. The interworking gateway of claim 39, wherein the at least one of the ECN feedback message or the rate request message comprises the rate request message, wherein the means for modifying comprises means for transmitting the ECN feedback message, and wherein the ECN feedback message is generated based on the rate request message.

42. The interworking gateway of claim 41, wherein the rate request message is compliant with a receiver-driven congestion control mode and an ECN congestion message is compliant with a sender-driven congestion control mode.

43. The interworking gateway of claim 37, wherein at least one message from the first plurality of messages comprises a congestion encountered marking on a receiver-driven congestion control link.

44. The interworking gateway of claim 37, further comprising means for transmitting a message to the second device, wherein the message comprises a congestion encountered marking on a sender-driven congestion control link.