Patent ID: 8438300
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: obtaining parameters, from specified neighboring node of a plurality of nodes, each one of the plurality of nodes having a buffer and a plurality of inputs and outputs and further located in a communication network configured to deliver messages from at least one source to at least one sink, the parameters comprising: (i) a buffer space, (ii) an input rate, (iii) an output rate, and (iv) a state of messages in the buffer indicative of a number of messages of each attribute; calculating a virtual overall volume reduction ratio associated with a virtual node being all of the specified nodes combined together, wherein the virtual reduction ratio represents the ratio of data to be reduced from a buffer in order to avoid buffer overflow, based on (i) a total buffer space, (ii) a total size of the messages, (iii) an input rate, and (iv) an output rate, all of the virtual node; deriving, for each one of the specified nodes, a virtual volume reduction ratio, representing a share of the node in the virtual overall volume reduction ratio; calculating, for each one of the specified nodes, an effective individual volume reduction ratio being the ratio of data the node should discard from its buffer had it been alone in the communication network, in order to avoid buffer overflow; calculating, for each one of the specified nodes, a ratio delta being a difference between the effective and the virtual reduction ratios; in a case the ratio delta is non-positive, for each one of the specified nodes: (i) applying a data reduction to the buffer; and (ii) applying a forth pressure to each one of the neighboring nodes located closer to the source that are further associated with a positive ratio delta by increasing their output rates; and in a case the ratio delta is positive, for each one of the specified nodes: (i) in a case that the ratio delta of a neighboring node closer to the sink is negative, performing a forth pressure by increasing the output rate of the node, thus increasing the input rate of the neighboring node closer to the sink; (ii) in a case that the ratio delta of any of the neighboring nodes closer to the source is negative, performing a back pressure by decreasing their respective output rates.