Fast dynamic measurement of bandwidth in a TCP network environment
US7266613B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L65/80
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The fast dynamic measurement of bandwidth in a TCP network environment utilizes a single pair of packets to calculate bandwidth between two entities on a network (such as the Internet). This calculation is based upon the packet-pair technique. This bandwidth measurement is extremely quick. On its journey across a network, communication devices may delay the packet pairs. In particular, TCP networks have two algorithms designed to delay some packets with the goal of increasing the overall throughput of the network. However, these algorithms effectively delay a packet pair designed to measure bandwidth. Therefore, they distort the measurement. These algorithms are Nagle and Slow Start. The fast dynamic measurement of bandwidth implements countermeasures to overcome the delays imposed by these algorithms. Such countermeasures include disabling the application of the Nagle Algorithm; minimizing the buffering of packets by sending a “push” packet right after the packet pair; and avoiding the Slow Start Algorithm by priming it with a dummy packet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.