Real-time Network Management of Internet Congestion

Every link and router in the various networks that make up the Internet has a limit on its capacity to handle data. When aggregate user demand at any point in time exceeds the capacity of a link or router, the result is congestion, which can degrade performance. Choices made by a variety parties, including Internet service providers (ISPs), application service providers (ASPs), and content delivery networks (CDNs) may alleviate or exacerbate congestion on both their own networks and others carrying their traffic.

The report describes how network resources are allocated on a short time scale in order to, among other objectives, manage congestion on the network, and how such congestion management impacts applications and users. The report also recommends best practices regarding congestion management and network resource management. Among other things, the report recommends that:

• ISPs and ASPs should disclose information about their user- or application- based network management and congestion management practices for Internet services in a manner that is readily accessible to the general public.
• Network operators should use accepted industry "Best Practices," standardized practices, or seek industry review of practices.
• When engaging in a congestion management practice that could have a detrimental impact on the traffic of certain users or certain applications, the practice should be designed to minimize that impact.
• If application-based congestion management practices are used, those based on a user’s expressed preferences are preferred over those that are not.
• If application-based criteria are used by a network operator, they should be tested prior to deployment and on an ongoing basis.
• ASPs and CDNs should implement efficient and adaptive network resource management practices.