Congestion control mechanism for streaming media
View Patent ↗Streaming media applications, e.g., sent over the Internet with TCP, can suffer from various fluctuations and low utilization due to TCP's Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD) congestion control mechanism. Improved methods and apparatuses are provided in which Logarithm-based Rate Control algorithms are employed to better utilize available bandwidth and/or control and smooth the sending rate of the streaming media.
1. A method for estimating throughput over at least one network connection, the method comprising:
determining packet size information for data to be sent over at least one network connection;
determining round trip time information associated with said network connection;
determining packet loss information associated with said network connection; and
estimating throughput for said network connection using a logarithmic function that considers said packet size information, said round trip time information, and said packet loss information,
wherein said logarithmic function includes:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
⨯
[
∑
n
=
0
∞
a
n
log
n
(
p
)
]
,
wherein, λ represents an estimated throughput of said network connection, MTU represents said packet size information, RTT represents said round-trip time information, and p represents said packet loss information.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said p represents a packet loss ratio.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said logarithmic function includes a first order logarithmic function of:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
⨯
[
a
0
+
a
1
log
(
p
)
]
.
4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing at least one processing unit to perform acts comprising;
determining packet size information for data to be sent over at least one network connection;
determining round trip time information associated with said network connection;
determining packet loss information associated with said network connection; and
estimating throughput for said network connection using a logarithmic function that considers said packet size information, said round trip time information, and said packet loss information,
wherein said logarithmic function includes:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
×
[
∑
n
=
0
∞
a
n
log
n
(
p
)
]
,
wherein, λ represents an estimated throughput of said network connection, MTU represents said packet size information, RTT represents said round-trip time information, and p represents said packet loss information.
5. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 4 , wherein said p represents a packet loss ratio.
6. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 4 , wherein said logarithmic function includes a first order logarithmic function of:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
×
[
a
0
+
a
1
log
(
p
)
]
.
7. An apparatus comprising:
at least one network interface configurable to operatively couple to at least one network resource through at least one network connection; and
logic operatively coupled to said network interface and configurable to determine packet size information for data to be sent over said network connection, determine round trip time information associated with said network connection, determine packet loss information associated with said network connection, and estimate throughput for said network connection using a logarithmic function that considers said packet size information, said round trip time information, said packet loss information,
wherein said logarithmic function includes:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
×
[
∑
n
=
0
∞
a
n
log
n
(
p
)
]
,
wherein, λ represents an estimated throughput of said network connection, MTU represents said packet size information, RTT represents said round-trip time information, and p represents said packet loss information.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said p represents a packet loss ratio.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said logarithmic function includes a first order logarithmic function of:
λ
=
MTU
RTT
×
[
a
0
+
a
1
log
(
p
)
]
.