Network Layer on Data Path: Smooth Queue Management

This chapter delves into the challenges and solutions related to managing network layer congestion to ensure low-latency interactive multimedia streaming. It reviews various approaches, including Active Queue Management (AQM), queue size optimization, and end-to-end message passing. The discussion highlights the difficulties in deploying these solutions, especially in wide-area networks. Emphasis is placed on the need for proactive strategies to mitigate latency fluctuations caused by flow competition. The chapter introduces a novel method, Confucius, to manage router queues and maintain consistent bandwidth for multimedia streaming, addressing the root causes of network-induced stalls and performance degradation.