Traffic congestion
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorsSerge Haumont, Tero Mäkelä
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling traffic congestion of communication traffic in a communication network. The network includes a first node which is operable to receive communication traffic in the form of data from one of more sending nodes and to pass that data to one or more receiving nodes. The method includes monitoring the possible output data rate of the first node and detecting if the possible output data rate becomes smaller than a maximum data rate value and responsive to that monitoring step performing congestion control whereby the data throughput of a flow of data through the first node is decreased.
Claims35
A method of controlling congestion of communication traffic in a communications network, the network comprising a first node operable to receive communication traffic in the form of data from one or more sending nodes and to pass said data to one or more receiving nodes, the method comprising:
- monitoring the possible output data rate of said first node and detecting if the possible output data rate becomes smaller than a maximum data rate value;
- and
- responsive to said monitoring step performing congestion control whereby the data throughput of a flow of data through said first node is decreased.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, the method further comprising:
- temporarily holding data in a data store of said first node if the rate of receipt of data at said first node exceeds a data throughput rate of the node;
- monitoring the level of occupancy of the data in the data store having regard to at least one threshold data occupancy level;
- and
- performing congestion control responsive to the monitored data occupancy level reaching the at least one threshold level.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said step of performing congestion control is carried out in dependence upon previous traffic loading conditions of the network.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the degree of congestion control performed at periods of high congestion risk exceeds that performed at periods of lower congestion risk.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the degree of congestion control performed is varied based on anticipated future traffic levels.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein time periods during which the network operates are categorised according to congestion risk.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a communication node requests a data transfer rate and a congestion control measure performed includes connecting a new data flow with a lower than requested transfer rate.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a congestion control measure performed includes reducing the transfer rate of an established data flow by a predetermined amount.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a congestion control measure performed includes rejecting a request to establish a new data flow.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a congestion control measure performed includes terminating an established data flow.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a combination of congestion control measures are performed at the same time.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein congestion control is performed on a new data flow in preference to or to a greater extent than on an established data flow.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the communication traffic is comprised of data having different levels of priority and congestion control measures are performed taking into account the priority level of the data.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one threshold level comprises a set of threshold levels.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein said first node comprises a radio network subsystem.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein a throughput rate request from a communicating node is recorded.
A method as in any preceding claim, wherein information on data losses is passed between nodes for the purposes of charging.
Apparatus for controlling congestion of communication traffic in a communications network, the network comprising a first node operable to receive communication traffic in the form of data from one or more sending nodes and to pass said data to one or more receiving nodes, the apparatus comprising:
- means for monitoring the possible output data rate of said first node and detecting if the possible output data rate becomes smaller than a maximum data rate value;
- and
- means, responsive to said monitoring step, for performing congestion control whereby the data throughput of a flow of data through said first node is decreased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.