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US 11,736,403 B2Granted
Systems and methods for enhanced autonegotiation
AssigneeLevel 3 Communications, LLC
InventorsSteven E. Drake, Charles R. Lyman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved autonegotiation approach includes determining that a negotiated rate between a first network device and a second network device exceeds data transfer capacity over a network path downstream of the second network device. In response, a configuration message is generated and transmitted to the first network device. When received by the first network device, the configuration message causes the first network device to limit data transfer between the first network device and the second network device to no more than the downstream data transfer capacity.
Claims12
A method of establishing a data transfer rate between network endpoints, the method comprising:
- initiating a connection between a first endpoint of a first network and a second endpoint of a second network, wherein the connection between the endpoint of the first network and the endpoint of the second network can transfer data at up to a first transfer rate;
- determining the first transfer rate is greater than a second transfer rate for transferring data over the second network, wherein the step of determining the first rate is greater than the second transfer rate occurs in response to identifying a decrease in throughput along a communication path between the second endpoint and a third endpoint of the second network;
- transmitting, in response to determining the first transfer rate is greater than the second transfer rate, a configuration message to a network device corresponding to the first endpoint, wherein the configuration message causes the network device to limit transfer of data over the connection from the first endpoint to the second endpoint to no greater than the second transfer rate, wherein the second network includes two or more third endpoints connected to a respective sub-interface of the second endpoint and enabling a respective transfer rate therebetween, and the second transfer rate is the respective transfer rate or a sum of the respective transfer rates between the second endpoint and the two or more third endpoints
- identifying an increase in the throughput along the communication path between the second endpoint and the third endpoint;
- and
- transmitting a second configuration message to the network device, wherein the second configuration message causes the network device to limit transfer of data from the first endpoint to the second endpoint to a third transfer rate, the third transfer rate up to and including the first transfer rate.
3 more elements
A system for controlling data transfer rates between network devices, the system comprising:
- a computing device comprising a processor and one or more non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to:
- determine that a negotiated transfer rate for transferring data from a first network device to a second network device over a first network exceeds a downstream transfer rate, the downstream transfer rate corresponding to a transfer rate between the second network device and a plurality of third network devices over a second network;
- generate a configuration message that, when received by the first network device, causes the first network device to limit data transfer between the first network device and the second network device to no greater than the downstream transfer rate;
- transmit the configuration message to the first network device, wherein the downstream transfer rate is a sum of transfer rates between the second network device and the plurality of third network devices;
- identify a change in the downstream transfer rate resulting in a first modified downstream transfer rate different from the downstream transfer rate;
- determine the first modified downstream transfer rate is less than the negotiated rate;
- generate a second configuration message that, when received by the first network device, causes the first network device to limit data transfer between the first network device and the second network device to no greater than the first modified downstream transfer rate;
- and
- transmit the second configuration message to the first network device.
6 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:
- determine that a negotiated transfer rate for transferring data from a first network device to a second network device over a first network exceeds a downstream transfer rate, the downstream transfer rate corresponding to a transfer rate between the second network device and two or more third network devices over a second network;
- generate a configuration message that, when responsive to being received by the first network device, causes the first network device to limit data transfer between the first network device and the second network device to no greater than the downstream transfer rate;
- transmit the configuration message to the first network device, wherein the second network includes the two or more third network devices connected to a respective sub-interface of the second network device and enabling a respective transfer rate therebetween, and the second transfer rate is the respective transfer rate or a sum of the respective transfer rates between the second network device and the two or more third network devices;
- identify a change in the downstream transfer rate resulting in a modified downstream transfer rate different than the downstream transfer rate;
- generate a configuration message that, when received by the first network device, causes the first network device to change a rate of data transfer between the first network device and the second network device;
- and
- transmit the configuration message to the first network device,
- wherein, responsive to determining that the modified downstream transfer rate is less than the downstream transfer rate, the rate of data transfer is changed to a rate equal to or below the modified downstream transfer rate, and, responsive to determining that the modified downstream transfer rate is greater than the downstream transfer rate, the rate of data transfer is changed to a rate that is the lesser of the modified downstream transfer rate and the negotiated transfer rate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.