Packet marking for integrated load control

Combining low-complexity packet marking at internal nodes with path-based load observation at edge gateways enables a rich set of control mechanisms in a packet-switched network. In this paper, we propose a method to estimate the relative per-node load at internal nodes, based on only the aggregated marking signal available at edge nodes, without any knowledge of internal capacities. We present the design of an integrated network system that supports both admission control and per-node load estimation using only two bits in the packet header, which requires a specific encoding of the two distinct marking signals. Finally, we describe a prototype implementation and a few simulation and lab experiments as a proof-of-concept for this approach.