Network quality as a service
A method of improving the performance of an access network for coupling one or more user devices to an application server, said method comprising encoding, using one of one or more encoders, data using a network performance enhancing coding (NPEC); transmitting the encoded data; receiving the encoded data; decoding, using one of one or more decoders, the encoded data using said NPEC; and receiving the decoded data at either of said application server or said one or more user devices.
1. A method of improving network performance between a network client and a first network server, said method comprising:
redirecting network traffic transmitted between said network client and said first network server through a second network server;
an encoder that encodes said redirected traffic transmitted between said network client and said second network server using a coding technique that enhances network performance; and
generating one or more extra encoded packets of data derived from said redirected network traffic, said extra packets of data encoded using said coding technique,
wherein said extra packets are created at said second network server,
wherein the encoder adds headers to packets of data derived from said redirected traffic, and the extra encoded packets after the encoding step and the generating step, and wherein the encoder avoids transmitting the encoded packets that exceed a maximum transfer unit of a network when the header is added to the encoded packets.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein one or both of said network client and first network server may dynamically choose whether to redirect said traffic through said second network server.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second network server is one of a plurality of second network servers.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the network client chooses the second network server to be used.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first network server chooses the second network server to be used.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said choice is based on one or more of:
a measurement of network performance;
a measurement of latency;
a measurement of packet error rate;
a measurement of bit error rate;
a measurement of packet loss rate; and
a measurement of jitter a type of the application generating the traffic.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said choice is based on one or more of:
a measurement of network performance;
a measurement of latency;
a measurement of packet error rate;
a measurement of bit error rate;
a measurement of packet loss rate;
a measurement of jitter; and
a type of the application generating the traffic.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the network client and second network server create an encoded channel and use said encoded channel to carry said encoded traffic.
9. A system for improving network performance between a network client and a first network server, said system comprising a network client, a first network server, a second network server and an encoder wherein:
said network client and said first network server redirect network traffic transmitted between said network client and said first network server through said second network server;
said redirected network traffic between said network client and said second network server is encoded by the encoder using a coding technique that enhances network performance; and
one or more extra packets of data being generated using said coding technique, said extra packets of data being generated from said redirected network traffic
wherein said extra packets is created at said second network server, wherein the encoder adds headers to packets of data from said redirected traffic and the extra encoded packets after the encoding step and the generating step, and wherein the encoder avoids transmitting the encoded packets that exceed a maximum transfer unit of a network when the header is added to the encoded packets.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein one or both of said network client and first network server may dynamically choose whether to redirect said traffic through said second network server.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein said second network server is one of a plurality of second network servers.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the network client chooses the second network server to be used.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first network server chooses the second network server to be used.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein said choice is based on one or more of:
a measurement of network performance;
a measurement of latency;
a measurement of packet error rate;
a measurement of bit error rate;
a measurement of packet loss rate;
a measurement of jitter; and
a type of the application generating the traffic.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein said choice is based on one or more of:
a measurement of network performance;
a measurement of latency;
a measurement of packet error rate;
a measurement of bit error rate;
a measurement of packet loss rate;
a measurement of jitter; and
a type of the application generating the traffic.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein the network client and second network server create an encoded channel and use said encoded channel to carry said encoded traffic.