System and method for transferring data over a network

• US 20020110149A1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/477
• 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 network bandwidth utilization. The method encompasses two embodiments that utilize different algorithms.

In a first embodiment, the method identifies a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculates a threshold level of utilization as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization. The threshold level represents a level below which a set of data, such as a software update, may be transferred or downloaded over the network without interfering with other network activity at the network interface. If the actual level of utilization is less than the threshold level, at least a portion or segment of the data is received over the network. If the actual level of utilization remains below the threshold level for an extended period of time, data may be transferred over the network in progressively larger segments to take advantage of unused bandwidth.

In a second embodiment, the method identifies a maximum monitored level of actual utilization and calculates 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 to transfer as a function of the maximum monitored level of utilization; 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 level of actual utilization comprises:

calculating an average of network bandwidth utilization;

calculating an average transfer rate; and

calculating a bandwidth availability percentage.

3. The method of claim 1 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.

4. The method of claim 3 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.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a client receives the data over the network from a server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring occurs at the interface between the client and the network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

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.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data includes a software update.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating at least said monitoring each time a portion of the set of data is received.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said maximum level derivation includes calculating an average level of utilization by repeating said monitoring a predetermined number of times during the receipt of said portion of the set of data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating said maximum level of actual utilization identification each time a portion of the set of data is received.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a client sends the data over the network to a server.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

15. A computer system having a memory, an operating system and a central processor, said processor being operable to execute the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium of claim 14.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein network utilizationis calculated based on the difference in values between a first data structure and a second data structure.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the actual network bandwidth utilization is monitored at an interface between a client machine and the network.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the network connection is an interface between a client machine and the network.

27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 20.

16. 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 the a time corresponding to said time stamp.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for managing the transfer of data over a network, comprising:

a bandwidth monitoring component which monitors the level of actual bandwidth utilization for a network connection;

a network speed calculating component which calculates a network transfer speed as a function of the monitored level of utilization observed by said bandwidth monitoring component; and

a transfer management component which manages the transfer of data over the network.

21. A method of refining network utilization determination and download data block sizes in the transfer of a set of data over a network comprising:

obtaining a network utilization rate at a plurlity of intervals;

computing an average of said network utilization rates; and

computing a block size of data to transfer during said intervals as a function of said average.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein obtaining said network utilization rate occurs at specific points in time during each of said intervals.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said computed average is weighted by allocating a higher ratio to the more recently obtained network utilization rate.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said block size is directly proportional to the product of said average, the size of said interval and network availability.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said intervals have a size that is adjusted based on said computed block size.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising transferring a minimum block of the set of data over the network to allow the refining of variables associated with the network utilization determination.

28. A computer system having a memory, an operating system and a central processor, said processor being operable to execute the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium of claim 26.