Modelling aggregate transport layer network traffic behaviour with feedback containing packet loss information
View Patent ↗A method of modelling network traffic behavior comprises transmitting network traffic through a communications network at a transmission rate and receiving at a traffic receiver the network traffic from the communications network. Feedback data is then derived from the network traffic received by the traffic receiver and used to generate instructions for altering the network traffic transmission rate. The network traffic is then transmitted through the network at the altered transmission rate according to the instructions.
1. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour comprising:
(a) transmitting network traffic that simulates an aggregate of transport layer flows or sessions rather than simulating individual transport layer flows or sessions through a communications network at a transmission rate, said network traffic including packets of data, each packet comprising a header and a payload, said transmitting of said packet depending on said header of that packet and not on said payload of that packet;
(b) receiving at a traffic receiver the network traffic from the communications network;
(c) deriving feedback data from the payload of the network traffic data packets received by the traffic receiver;
(d ) transmitting the feedback data to a computer processor;
(e) generating, using the feedback data, instructions for altering the network traffic transmission rate; and
(f) transmitting network traffic through the network at the altered transmission rate according to the instructions,
wherein the feedback data includes packet loss information regarding the network traffic and wherein generating instructions for altering the network traffic transmission rate includes generating instructions for altering the transmission rate based on a rate of packet loss.
2. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 1 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of connection-oriented traffic.
3. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 1 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of Transport Layer traffic.
4. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 1 wherein the network traffic includes receipted data packets, and the altered transmission rate simulates congestion resulting from re-transmission of packets which have not been received, wherein said receipted data packets comprise data packets whose payload comprises data specifying the order in which said packets were sent or the time at which each packet was sent.
5. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 4 wherein the receipted data packets are transmission control protocol (TCP) packets at the Transport Layer and Internet protocol (IP) packets at the Network Layer.
6. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 1 wherein the instructions are generated by the computer processor and the feedback data is transmitted to the computer processor using one or more transmission links also used to transmit network traffic on the communications network.
7. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 6 wherein the computer processor generates the instructions using one or more pre-programmed algorithms.
8. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 6 wherein the instructions are changed in response to input provided to the computer processor; wherein the input comprises the feedback data and additional data unrelated to the feedback data.
9. A method of modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 8 wherein the input relates to network traffic characteristics including network latency.
10. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour on a communications network comprising:
(a) a generator generating network traffic at a transmission rate in response to instructions received, said network traffic simulating an aggregate of transport layer flows or sessions rather than simulating individual flows or sessions, said network traffic including packets of data, each packet comprising a header and a payload, said transmission of said packet depending on said header of that packet and not on said payload of that packet;
(b) a traffic receiver receiving network traffic and deriving feedback data from the payload of the network traffic data packets; and
(c) a computer processor generating instructions for altering the network traffic transmission rate, using the feedback data,
wherein the feedback data includes packet loss information regarding the network traffic and wherein generating instructions for altering the network traffic transmission rate includes generating instructions for altering the transmission rate based on a rate of packet loss.
11. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 10 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of connection-oriented traffic.
12. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 10 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of Transport Layer traffic.
13. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 10 wherein the feedback data is transmitted to the computer processor using one or more transmission links that also transmit network traffic on the network.
14. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 10 wherein the network traffic includes receipted data packets, and the altered transmission rate simulates congestion resulting from re-transmission of packets which have not been received, wherein said receipted data packets comprise data packets whose payload comprises data specifying the order in which said packets were sent or the time at which each packet was sent.
15. A system for modelling network traffic behaviour according to claim 14 wherein the receipted data packets are transmission control protocol (TCP) packets.
16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having instructions loaded thereon, said instructions when loaded into a computer causing said computer to perform a programmed method for modelling network traffic behaviour on a communications network, the programmed method comprising:
(a) receiving feedback data derived from payloads of data packets of network traffic received by a traffic receiver, each data packet comprising a header and a payload, said receiving of said packet depending on said header of that packet and not on said payload of that packet, wherein the network traffic simulates an aggregate for transport layer flows or sessions rather than simulating individual flows or sessions;
(b) generating instructions, derived at least in part from the feedback data, for altering a network traffic transmission rate; and
(c) causing the network traffic transmission rate to be altered in accordance with the instructions,
wherein the feedback data includes packet loss information regarding the network traffic and wherein generating instructions altering the network traffic transmission rate includes generating instructions for altering the transmission rate based on a rate of packet loss.
17. A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of connection-oriented traffic.
18. A computer program product according to claim 17 wherein the network traffic includes receipted data packets and the altered transmission rate simulates network congestion resulting from re-transmission of packets which have not been received, wherein said receipted data packets comprise data packets whose payload comprises data specifying the order in which said packets were sent or the time at which each packet was sent.
19. A computer program product according to claim 18 wherein the receipted data packets are transmission control protocol (TCP) packets.
20. A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the network traffic behaviour is characteristic of Transport Layer network traffic.
21. A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the computer program product is used by a computer processor receiving the feedback data via one or more transmission links and is also used to transmit network traffic on the network.
22. A computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the programmed method further comprises programmably receiving input used to generate the instructions, wherein the input comprises the feedback data and additional data unrelated to the feedback data.
23. A computer program product according to claim 22 wherein the input relates to network traffic characteristics including network latency.