System and method for adaptively balancing network traffic over router output ports
US7554914B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/254
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for determining an output port upon which to transmit a packet in a router having a plurality of output ports adapted to be coupled with an adjacent router. In one embodiment, a list is created of output ports that are coupled with the adjacent router, and the list is modified based on network traffic. A port is selected from the list of ports, and the packet is transmitted over the selected port. In one example, the list is modified continuously as a background process based on network traffic. The list may be modified by determining a port which is under-utilized, determining a port which is over-utilized, and substituting in the list one or more instances of the port which is over-utilized with one or more instances of the port which is under-utilized. In this manner, a router can adaptively and evenly distribute the packet transmission traffic over the output ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.