Gettys: Traditional AQM is not enough

Posted Jul 20, 2013 5:04 UTC (Sat) by giraffedata (guest, #1954)
In reply to: Gettys: Traditional AQM is not enough by kleptog
Parent article: Gettys: Traditional AQM is not enough

I hadn't heard of variable speed limit signs, but I can see that that would work. The best device I've seen for eliminating stop-and-go traffic jams is the "Don't change lanes" sign that lights up when there is congestion.

I don't think any of this automobile traffic theory helps us at all with network traffic, though, because the automobile traffic unpleasantness is caused by two things that have no analog on data networks: 1) multiple lanes that cars can switch between continuously; and 2) following distance psychology. If all freeways had solid lines between the lanes except for occasional openings and cars had computers to ensure constant distance from the car ahead, there wouldn't be any stop-and-go traffic. You especially wouldn't see a car come to a stop because another one two miles down the road slowed down 3 mph to look at an accident.