Protocol agnostic cognitive congestion control

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive, by a layer 3 protocol handler from a layer 4 protocol handler for a flow to be transmitted over a path between a sending node and a receiving node that includes a set of transit nodes, a protocol data unit of the flow and a context key associated with the flow;
• associate, by the layer 3 protocol handler, the context key with a packet queue storing a set of packets generated based on the protocol data unit;
• determine, by the layer 3 protocol handler for the context key, a minimum target transmission rate associated with the path for the context key;
• and
• send, by the layer 3 protocol handler based on the minimum target transmission rate associated with the path for the context key, the set of packets.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a layer 3 protocol handler from a layer 4 protocol handler for a flow to be transmitted over a path, a protocol data unit of the flow and a context key associated with the flow;
• associating, by the layer 3 protocol handler, the context key with a packet queue storing a set of packets generated based on the protocol data unit;
• determining, by the layer 3 protocol handler for the context key, a minimum target transmission rate associated with the path for the context key;
• and
• sending, by the layer 3 protocol handler based on the minimum target transmission rate associated with the path for the context key, the set of packets.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one
• processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive, by a transit node from a sending node, a packet intended for delivery to a receiving node over a path from the sending node to the receiving node that includes an egress interface of the transit node, wherein the packet includes a context key and an indication of a request by the sending node for the transit node to provide a target transmission rate for the context key;
• determine, by the transit node in response to the indication of the request by the sending node for the transit node to provide the target transmission rate for the context key and based on measurements of traffic on the egress interface of the transit node, the target transmission rate for the context key;
• insert, by the transit node, the target transmission rate for the context key into the packet to form a modified packet;
• and
• send, by the transit node toward the receiving node via the egress interface of the transit node, the modified packet.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive, by a receiving node of a path between a sending node and the receiving node that includes a set of transit nodes, a first packet that includes a context key and a respective set of target transmission rates of the respective transit nodes for the context key;
• and
• send, by the receiving node toward the sending node, a second packet including the context key and the set of target transmission rates of the respective transit nodes for the context key.