Optimal bandwidth allocation with dynamic multi-path routing for non-critical traffic in AFDX networks

Avionic networks exerting the Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) protocol utilize a small amount of the bandwidth to transmit critical traffics. As there is an increasing demand on data exchange for non critical applications, it is of great interest to make use of the physically available capability of the network through optimal bandwidth allocation. In this paper, the problem of bandwidth allocation in AFDX networks is treated in the framework of Network Utility Maximization (NUM). In the present work, multi-path routing is used for non-critical applications to explore the available bandwidth and to improve system performance. The optimization problem is decomposed into a rate update subproblem and a traffic routing subproblem linked together by a pricing dynamic system. A distributed algorithm for bandwidth allocation with multi-path routing is developed and the convergence of the algorithm is proven using Lyapunov stability theory. Some issues related to the implementation of the devolved algorithm in the context of real AFDX networks are addressed and the corresponding solutions are provided. Finally, TrueTime based simulations conform the viability and the applicability of the proposed approach.