Dynamic assignment of traffic classes to a priority queue in a packet forwarding device

• US 20020021701A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Inventors: Lavian, Tal I., Lau, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,619,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2458 Modification of priorities while in transit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6215 Individual queue per QOS, rate or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6255 queue load conditions, e.g. longest queue first
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6275 based on priority

Abstract

An apparatus and method for dynamic assignment of classes of traffic to a priority queue. Bandwidth consumption by one or more types of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device is monitored to determine whether the bandwidth consumption exceeds a threshold. If the bandwidth consumption exceeds the threshold, assignment of at least one type of packet traffic of the one or more types of packet traffic is changed from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority.

Claims

1. In a packet forwarding device, a method comprising:

monitoring types of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device;

determining whether a type of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device is a predetermined type; and

when the type of packet traffic is the predetermined type, automatically performing at least one of

changing assignment of the predetermined type of packet traffic from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority,

dropping packets of the predetermined type in the packet traffic,

copying packets of the predetermined type in the packet traffic, and

diverting packets of the predetermined type in the packet traffic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of packet traffic is based on its source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sources of packet traffic include a source MAC address.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sources of packet traffic include a source VLAN.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of packet traffic is based on its ingress port.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of packet traffic is based on its destination.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the destination of packet traffic includes a destination MAC address.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the destination of packet traffic includes a destination VLAN.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of packet traffic is based on its egress port.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of traffic is based on its protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the protocol of traffic includes FTP.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the protocol of traffic includes HTTP.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions meeting the predetermined criteria include time of day.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions meeting the predetermined criteria include network configuration changes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network configuration changes include network failures.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the network configuration changes include network congestion.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions meeting the predetermined criteria include network error rates.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions meeting the predetermined criteria include line use of high level protocols.

13. In a packet forwarding device, a method comprising:

monitoring environmental conditions of reception of packet traffic in the packet forwarding device;

determining whether environmental conditions of reception of packet traffic in the packet forwarding device meet predetermined criteria, and

when the environmental conditions of reception of packet traffic meet the predetermined criteria, automatically performing at least one of

changing assignment of packet traffic from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority,

dropping packets in the packet traffic,

copying packets in the packet traffic, and

diverting packets in the packet traffic.

20. In a packet forwarding device, a method comprising:

monitoring traffic patterns of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device;

determining whether traffic patterns of packet traffic in the packet forwarding device meet predetermined criteria, and

when the traffic patterns of packet traffic meet the predetermined criteria, automatically performing at least one of

changing assignment of at least one type of packet traffic from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority,

dropping packets in the packet traffic,

copying packets in the packet traffic, and

diverting packets in the packet traffic.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least some of the traffic patterns are based on specified source ports.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein at least some of the traffic patterns are based on specified destination ports.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein at least some of the traffic patterns are based on specified source MAC addresses.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein at least some of the traffic patterns are based on specified IP flows.