Drexel Research Experience for Teachers

Multi Protocol Label Switching &
Auto Bandwidth Allocation Mechanism
Dr. Jaudelice de Oliveira and Sukrit Dasgupta
 Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Drexel University
Barbara B. Algieri ~ Drexel RET
The goal of this study is to simplify network manageability and optimize bandwidth allocation.  The system projects to make the most efficient mechanism for sending data and reserving bandwidth.  The current models use CSP (Constrained Shortest Path) to determine network flow.  This means that generally most data will be using the same paths causing congestion.  

Label switching allows us to place priority levels on data so that less sensitive data can take slightly longer paths that would not be used otherwise.  Realize though that this so called longer paths may be only a few seconds or even milliseconds longer.  Second, it needs to be determined just how much bandwidth is needed, if to much bandwidth is reserved it not only creates a waste of space that cannot be used by others but also inflates the cost of network services.
Traffic is sampled every five minutes and then estimated every hour, variations on the algorithm control the variables for when to resize the bandwidth.  Ultimately, the entire network would run faster and more efficiently.  Below are some links that explain the research and some of our test results.