Systems and methods to choose an optimal path from multiple high latency links
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for selecting a path or link from a plurality of links between intermediary devices, based on characteristics of links between the intermediary devices and end nodes of the communication flow. The link choice may be determined from latency, packet drop rates, jitter, congestion, or other characteristics of the links to the end nodes. Link selection may further be based on traffic priority or transport layer quality of service (QoS) requirements of the connection, load balancing requirements, or other such features.
1. A method for path selection from a plurality of connections, comprising:
identifying, by a path selector of a first intermediary device of a pair of intermediary devices deployed between a first node and a second node, a first characteristic of a first network connection between the first node and the first intermediary device;
identifying, by the path selector, a second characteristic of a second network connection between the second node and a second intermediary device of the pair of intermediary devices;
determining, by the path selector, a maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic;
identifying a third characteristic of a third network connection and a fourth characteristic of a fourth network connection of a plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device, by the path selector, wherein the third characteristic of the third network connection and the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection are both less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic;
determining, by the path selector, that the third characteristic of the third network connection is greater than the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection;
selecting, by the path selector, the third network connection from the plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and the second intermediary device, responsive to the determination that the third characteristic of the third network connection is greater than the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection; and
establishing a communication flow between the first node and second node, by the path selector, via the first network connection, second network connection, and selected third network connection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first characteristic of the first network connection comprises measuring a latency of the first network connection; and
wherein identifying the second characteristic of the second network connection comprises measuring a latency of the second network connection.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the first characteristic of the first network connection further comprises measuring a packet loss rate of the first network connection; and
wherein identifying the second characteristic of the second network connection further comprises measuring a packet loss rate of the second network connection.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third characteristic of the third network connection is less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and further comprising:
determining, by the path selector, that a characteristic of each network connection between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device other than the third network connection exceeds the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic; and
selecting the third network connection, by the path selector, responsive to the determination.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pair of intermediary devices are further deployed between a third node and a fourth node, and further comprising establishing a communication flow between the third node and the fourth node, by the path selector, via a fourth connection of the plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device, a throughput of the fourth connection exceeding a throughput of the third connection.
6. A method for path selection from a plurality of connections, comprising:
identifying, by a path selector of a first intermediary device of a pair of intermediary devices deployed between a first node and a second node, a first characteristic of a first network connection between the first node and the first intermediary device;
identifying, by the path selector, a second characteristic of a second network connection between the second node and a second intermediary device of the pair of intermediary devices;
selecting, by the path selector, a third network connection from a plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device, based on the identified first characteristic of the first network connection and identified second characteristic of the second network connection, by determining, by the path selector, a maximum of a latency of the first network connection multiplied by a packet loss rate of the first network connection, and a latency of the second network connection multiplied by a packet loss rate of the second network connection; and
establishing a communication flow between the first node and second node, by the path selector, via the first network connection, second network connection, and selected third network connection.
7. A system for path selection from a plurality of connections, comprising:
a first intermediary device of a pair of intermediary devices deployed between a first node and a second node and between a third node and a fourth node, the first intermediary device comprising:
a first network interface connected via a first network connection to the first node;
a plurality of network interfaces connected via a corresponding plurality of network connections to a second intermediary device of the pair of intermediary devices, the second intermediary device connected via a second network connection to the second node; and
a path selector, configured to:
identify a first characteristic of the first network connection between the first node and the first intermediary device,
identify a second characteristic of the second network connection between the second node and the second intermediary device,
determine a maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic,
identify a third characteristic of a third network connection and a fourth characteristic of a fourth network connection of a plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device, wherein the third characteristic of the third network connection and the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection are both less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic,
determine that the third characteristic of the third network connection is greater than the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection,
select the third network connection from the plurality of network connections to the second intermediary device, responsive to the determination that the third characteristic of the third network connection is greater than the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection, and connection,
establish a communication flow between the first node and second node, via the first network connection, second network connection, and selected third network connection.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the path selector is further configured to measure a latency of the first network connection and measure a latency of the second network connection.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the path selector is further configured to measure a packet loss rate of the first network connection and measure a packet loss rate of the second network connection.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the third characteristic of the third network connection is less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and wherein the path selector is further configured to:
determine that a characteristic of each network connection between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device other than the third network connection exceeds the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic; and
select the third network connection, responsive to the determination.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the pair of intermediary devices are further deployed between a third node and a fourth node, and wherein the path selector is further configured to establish a communication flow between the third node and the fourth node, via a fourth connection of the plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device, a throughput of the fourth connection exceeding a throughput of the third connection.
12. A system for path selection from a plurality of connections, comprising:
a first intermediary device of a pair of intermediary devices deployed between a first node and a second node, the first intermediary device comprising:
a first network interface connected via a first network connection to the first node;
a plurality of network interfaces connected via a corresponding plurality of network connections to a second intermediary device of the pair of intermediary devices, the second intermediary device connected via a second network connection to the second node; and
a path selector, configured to:
identify a first characteristic of the first network connection between the first node and the first intermediary device,
identify a second characteristic of the second network connection between the second node and the second intermediary device,
determine a maximum of a latency of the first network connection multiplied by a packet loss rate of the first network connection, and a latency of the second network connection multiplied by a packet loss rate of the second network connection,
select a third network connection from the plurality of network connections to the second intermediary device, based on the determined maximum, and
establish a communication flow between the first node and second node, via the first network connection, second network connection, and selected third network connection.
13. A method for path selection from a plurality of connections, comprising:
identifying, by a path selector of a first intermediary device of a pair of intermediary devices deployed between a first node and a second node, a first characteristic of a first network connection between the first node and the first intermediary device;
identifying, by the path selector, a second characteristic of a second network connection between the second node and a second intermediary device of the pair of intermediary devices;
determining, by the path selector, a maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic;
identifying a third characteristic of a third network connection and a fourth characteristic of a fourth network connection from a plurality of network connections between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device;
selecting, by the path selector, the third network connection, responsive to either:
(i) the third characteristic of the third network connection and the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection both less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and the third characteristic of the third network connection exceeding the fourth characteristic of the fourth network connection, or
(ii) the third characteristic of the third network connection being less than the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and a characteristic of each network connection between the first intermediary device and second intermediary device other than the third network connection exceeding the maximum of the first characteristic and the second characteristic; and
establishing a communication flow between the first node and second node, by the path selector, via the first network connection, second network connection, and selected third network connection.