# US 10,484,289 B2 · Adjusting connection validating control signals in response to changes in network traffic > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,289 B2 - Document ID: US10484289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/607,530 - Filed: 2017-05-28 - Published: 2017-11-16 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-24 - Assignees: Nicira, Inc. - Applicants: Nicira, Inc. - Inventors: Ethan J. Jackson; Keith E. Amidon; Andy Zhou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484289B2 ## CPC - H04L 47/25: with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions - H04L 43/0888: Throughput - H04L 43/0894: Packet rate - H04L 43/103: with adaptive polling, i.e. dynamically adapting the polling rate - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Some embodiments provide a method for reducing the transmission of connection validating control signals when they are not needed. Network entities transmit connection validating control signals over network connections at regular intervals to validate that the network connections and the network entities remain functional. The method monitors data traffic fluctuations on the network connections to determine when connection validating control signals may not be needed. The method reduces unnecessary connection validating control signals in order to optimize the usage of network resources. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for regulating transmission of control packets between first and second network entities that exchange data messages through a network, the method comprising: from the first network entity, transmitting control packets to the second network entity at an initial control packet rate; monitoring a rate of data packet transmission between the first and second network entities that does not account for the transmitted control packets; and in response to the monitored rate of data packet transmission falling below a threshold value for a particular period of time, reducing the transmission rate of the control packets from the first network entity in order to reduce resource consumption in the network due to excessive control packets from the first entity to the second entity when the data packet transmission rate is below the threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the monitored rate of data packet transmission is above the threshold value for a different period of time and the control packets are being transmitted at the reduced control packet rate, increasing the control packet rate and transmitting the control packets at the increased control packet rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising iteratively reducing the control packet rate in proportion to the monitored rate of data packet transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising iteratively reducing the control packet rate by a fixed amount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second network entities are physical hosts running virtual switching applications for hosted virtual machines. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising instructing the second network entity to reduce the rate at which it transmits control packets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising instructing the second network entity to reset the rate at which it transmits control packets to an initial rate when the monitored rate of data packet transmission is above a threshold value for a different period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the rate of control packet transmission from the first entity is reduced after an instruction to reduce control packet rate has been received from the second network entity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the rate at which the first network entity receives control packets from the second network entity and the rate at which the first network entity transmits controls packets to the second network entity are different. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control packets are hello packets or echo packets associated with maintaining a tunnel connection between the first and second entities. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program for regulating transmission of control packets between a first network entity and a second network entity, the program for execution by at least one processing unit, the program comprising sets of instructions for: from the first network entity, transmitting control packets to the second network entity at an initial control packet rate; monitoring a rate of data packet transmission between the first and second network entities that does not account for the transmitted control packets; and in response to the monitored rate of data packet transmission falling below a threshold value for a particular period of time, reducing the transmission rate of the control packets from the first network entity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for increasing the control packet rate and transmitting the control packets at the increased control packet rate when the monitored rate of data packet transmission is above the threshold value for a different period of time and the control packets are being transmitted at the reduced control packet rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for iteratively reducing the control packet rate in proportion to the monitored rate of data packet transmission. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for iteratively reducing the control packet rate by a fixed amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first and second network entities are physical hosts running virtual switching applications for hosted virtual machines. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for instructing the second network entity to reduce the rate at which it transmits control packets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for instructing the second network entity to reset the rate at which it transmits control packets to an initial rate when the monitored rate of data packet transmission is above a threshold value for a different period of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the rate of control packet transmission from the first entity is reduced after an instruction to reduce control packet rate has been received from the second network entity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 18, wherein the rate at which the first network entity receives control packets from the second network entity and the rate at which the first network entity transmits controls packets to the second network entity are different. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein the control packets are hello packets or echo packets associated with maintaining a tunnel connection between the first and second entities. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control packets are connection-validating packets that are transmitted by the first network entity to the second network entity to validate a connection between the first and second entities. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored data packet transmission rate comprises data packet transmissions from the first network entity to the second network entity.