US6115357A
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US
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Method for pacing data flow in a packet-based network
Assignee: Gen Digital Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-29
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Granted: 2000-09-05
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Expires: 2018-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for pacing data flows in packet switched networks by arranging data transmission over a period of time based upon a set of ascertainable factors about the underlying transmission link to derive an intersegment transmission interval. The intersegment transmission interval can be used to pace either data packets or acknowledgment packets. The method is especially useful for pacing the transmission of data in a digital data packet communication environment having a plurality of digital packet transmission stations inter-connectable in a data path and employing the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) suite.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Packer
- 👤 Brett D. Galloway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/22; H04L47/19; H04L47/193; H04L47/26; H04L47/263; H04L47/27; H04L47/28; H04L47/283; H04L47/32; H04L47/323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for pacing transmission of data in a packet communication environment having a plurality of transmission stations inter-connectable via a link through a wide area network cloud, said method comprising the steps of: determining a round trip time for a packet issued by a transmitter and acknowledged by a receiver; determining number of data segments in a flow control window; determining a window transmission time as the amount of time required to transmit the data segments of the flow control window; computing an intersegment transmission interval based on the round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per flow control window; and during a communication connection successively transmitting packets, each containing a data segment, with intersegment transmission intervals between selected packets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for pacing transmission of data in a packet communication environment having a plurality of transmission stations inter-connectable via a link through a wide area network cloud, said method comprising the steps of: determining a round trip time for a packet issued by a transmitter and acknowledged by a receiver; determining number of data segments in a flow control window; determining a window transmission time as the amount of time required to transmit the data segments of the flow control window; computing an intersegment transmission interval based on the round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per flow control window; and during a communication connection successively transmitting packets, each containing a data segment, with intersegment transmission intervals between selected packets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the round trip time determining step comprises the steps of: sending a first packet to a remote transmission station; receiving a second packet as an acknowledgment from the remote transmission station; measuring a time delay between the first packet and the second packet; and computing the round trip time from the time delay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the intersegment transmission interval is randomly varied from its computed value during the transmitting step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the round trip time determining step is effected only once in conjunction with a single connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said intersegment transmission interval establishes a delay bound for scheduling of packets for transmission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 including a further step of recomputing the intersegment transmission interval upon a change of any one of round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein any one of said determining steps is effected prior to said first transmitting step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said round trip time (RTT) determining step includes computation based on an arbitrary rate (AR) according to the relation: (RTT)=(WB)/(AR), where (WB) is number of bits in a flow control window, in order to compute said intersegment transmission interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said intersegment transmission interval computing step comprises a computation according to the relation: ITI=(RTT-WTT)/(NSW-1) where RTT is round trip time, WTT is window transmission time, NSW is number of segments per window, RTT>WTT, and NSW>1.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for pacing transmission of data in a packet communication environment having a plurality of transmission stations inter-connectable via a link through a wide area network cloud, said method comprising the steps of: determining a round trip time for a packet issued by a transmitter and acknowledged by a receiver; determining number of data segments in a flow control window; determining a window transmission time as the amount of time required to transmit the data segments of the flow control window; computing an intersegment transmission interval based on the round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per flow control window; and during a communication connection, successively transmitting packets, each containing an acknowledgment of receipt of data, with intersegment transmission intervals between selected packets.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for pacing transmission of data in a packet communication environment having a plurality of transmission stations inter-connectable via a link through a wide area network cloud, said method comprising the steps of: determining a round trip time for a packet issued by a transmitter and acknowledged by a receiver; determining number of data segments in a flow control window; determining a window transmission time as the amount of time required to transmit the data segments of the flow control window; computing an intersegment transmission interval based on the round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per flow control window; and during a communication connection, successively transmitting packets, each containing an acknowledgment of receipt of data, with intersegment transmission intervals between selected packets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the round trip time determining step comprises the steps of: sending a first packet to a remote transmission station; receiving a second packet as an acknowledgment from the remote transmission station; measuring a time delay between the first packet and the second packet; and computing the round trip time from the time delay.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the intersegment transmission interval is randomly varied from its computed value during the transmitting step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the round trip time determining step is effected only once in conjunction with a single connection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said intersegment transmission interval establishes a delay bound for scheduling of packets for transmission.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 including a further step of recomputing the intersegment transmission interval upon a change of any one of round trip time, window transmission time and number of segments per window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein any one of said determining steps is effected prior to said first transmitting step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said round trip time (RTT) determining step includes computation based on an arbitrary rate (AR) according to the relation: (RTT)=(WB)/(AR), where (WB) is number of bits in a flow control window, in order to compute said intersegment transmission interval.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said intersegment transmission internal computing step comprises a computation according to the relation: ITI=(RTT-WTT)/(NSW-1) where RTT is round trip time, WTT is window transmission time, NSW is number of segments per window, RTT>WTT, and NSW>1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-05 | 2004-03-06 | 2004-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | 2008-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-05 | 2012-03-06 | 2012-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |