Microsoft Corporation
DYNAMIC NETWORK RECEIVER-DRIVEN DATA SCHEDULING OVER A DATACENTER NETWORK FOR MANAGING ENDPOINT RESOURCES AND CONGESTION MITIGATION

Abstract:

A network endpoint receiver controls packet flow from a transmitter. Packets are received via a network in packet traffic according to a push mode, where the transmitter controls pacing of transmitting the packets. Characteristics related to the packet traffic are monitored at the receiver. The monitored characteristics are compared to reception performance parameters, and based on the comparison, a decision is made to switch from the push mode to a pull mode for controlling the packet flow. The receiver transmits a pull mode request packet to the transmitter, where the pull mode request packet indicates a pacing of subsequent packets transmitted by the transmitter to the receiver in accordance with the pull mode. Pacing of further transmitted packets may be controlled by subsequent pull mode request packets sent over time to the transmitter by the receiver. Similarly, the receiver may control additional transmitters to transmit at equal or different rates.