A binary feedback scheme for congestion avoidance in computer networks with a connectionless network layer

Abstract

We propose a scheme for congestion avoidance in networks using a connectionless protocol at the network layer. The scheme uses feedback from the network to the users of the network. The interesting challenge for the scheme is to use a minimal amount of feedback (one bit in each packet) from the network to adjust the amount of traffic allowed into the network. The servers in the network detect congestion and set a congestion indication bit on packets flowing in the forward direction. The congestion indication is communicated back to the users through the transport level acknowledgement.