Congestion control in high-speed communication networks using the Smith principle

High-speed communication networks are characterized by large bandwidth-delay products. This may have an adverse impact on the stability of closed-loop congestion control algorithms. In this paper, classical control theory and Smith's principle are proposed as key tools for designing an effective and simple congestion control law for high-speed data networks. Mathematical analysis shows that the proposed control law guarantees stability of network queues and full utilization of network links in a general network topology and traffic scenario during both transient and steady-state condition. In particular, no data loss is guaranteed using buffers with any capacity, whereas full utilization of links is ensured using buffers with capacity at least equal to the bandwidth-delay product. The control law is transformed to a discrete-time form and is applied to ATM networks. Moreover a comparison with the ERICA algorithm is carried out. Finally, the control law is transformed to a window form and is applied to Internet. The resulting control law surprisingly reveals that today's Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol implements a Smith predictor for congestion control. This provides a theoretical insight into the congestion control mechanism of TCP/IP along with a method to modify and improve this mechanism in a way that is backward compatible. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.