Packet based network for supporting real time applications

• US 20020114274A1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Packetup Corporation
• Original Assignee: Packetup Corporation
• Inventors: Sturges, James H., Palmer, Owen J.
• Application Number:
  US09/956,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/31 by tagging of packets, e.g. using discard eligibility [DE] bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/785 among multiple network domains, e.g. multilateral agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/825 Involving tunnels, e.g. MPLS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A communication system supports packet based (e.g. IP) networking service with end-to-end quality of service packet delivery mechanisms. A local server, which resides on a customer'"'"'s local area or wide area network, detects and marks packets for applications for different service levels will on the customer'"'"'s network and prior to the packets being routed to an access or backbone network. The local server also coordinates with network services on a backbone network for enforcing access to the backbone network, coordinating setup of communication sessions and tracking lengths of sessions for billing purposes.

Claims

1. A method for providing differentiated quality of service communication services, comprising:

receiving from a customer'"'"'s network for transmission over a backbone packet network a packet flow for a communications session, the packet flow including packets marked by customer'"'"'s network prior to routing to the backbone packet network, the packets being marked with a quality of service indicator corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined service levels; and

transmitting the packet flow on the backbone packet network according to the one of a plurality of predetermined service levels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a server on the customer'"'"'s network information on the length of the communications session; and

charging for transmission of the packet flow over the backbone packet network based at least in part on the length of the communications session.

3. A method for providing differentiated quality of service communication services between a customer'"'"'s network and a backbone packet network, comprising:

detecting on a local or wide area network a packet flow of a communications session destined for another communications network and to be transmitted over a backbone packet network;

assigning one of a plurality of predetermined service levels to the communications session; and

marking packets in the packet flow with a quality of service indicator corresponding to the one of the plurality of predetermined service levels prior to routing the packets to the backbone packet network.

4. A communications network comprising:

a backbone packet network connected to a customer'"'"'s packet network;

a network server for facilitating use of the backbone packet network; and

a local server on the customer'"'"'s network in communication with the network server for determining which of a plurality of service levels in packet flow originating on the customer network and transmitted over the backbone packet network is to receive on at least the backbone packet network.