Dynamic Time Windows: packet admission control with feedback

Abstract

We present a feedback congestion control method, Dynamic Time Windows, for use in high speed wide area networks based on controlling source variance. It is part of the two-level integrated congestion control system introduced in our earlier work[1].

The method consists of a packet admission control system and a feedback system to dynamically control source burstiness. Source throughput is not modulated as with traditional packet windows, allowing system throughput to remain high while avoiding congestion. Furthermore, the admission control bounds congestion times in the network, allowing feedback to be effective in the face of large bandwidth delay products.

The basic control mechanisms are analogs to traditional packet windows applied to controlling time windows - a new mechanism which allows switches to modulate source variances. The proposed system is simulated, and the results reported and analyzed. Enhancements to the basic system are also proposed and analyzed.

We wish to stress that the system described here is the second level of a two-level congestion control. Previous work[1] concentrated on the switch queueing mechanism, Pulse, while this work is a detailed examination of the feedback system used to adjust time windows to changing network load.

References

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Index Terms

• Networks

  • Network protocols

  • Network types

    • Packet-switching networks

    • Wired access networks