USE OF PRECEDENCE BITS FOR QUALITY OF SERVICE

• US 20030039210A1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: ZHANG, SHUJIN, CHU, JIE, LOU, SHUXIAN, SANTOS, MARIA ALICE, JIN, JANE
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Certain bits of a packet, such as bits in the IP header of an IP packet, are used to designate the type of service or Quality of Service (QoS) level to be afforded to the packet as it passes through a data communications network. A user entitled to a certain QoS level logs into a service selection gateway SSG. The SSG queries an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server in response to a log-in attempt by the user. Upon authorization, the AAA server returns an access accept signal in addition to an indication from the user'"'"'s service profile (user profile) as to the QoS level to be afforded the user. While the user is logged in, all packets are routed through the SSG. The SSG sets the certain bits of the packet in accordance with the user'"'"'s assigned QoS level so that as the packets are routed through the data communications network, they are consistently afforded the assigned Quality of Service level. In another aspect of the invention, on-demand QoS may be provided by the SSG and accounted for by communications with the AAA server.

Claims

1. A method of setting Quality of Service bits of packets sent by a user of a data communications network, comprising:

obtaining a user service profile configured with a QoS level for the user in response to a user log-in attempt to a service selection gateway;

routing all packets originated by the user through the SSG during the session;

setting, in the SSG, the QoS bits of packets originated by the user in accordance with the QoS level for the user; and

passing, after said QoS bits have been set, said packets on to the data communications network.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein all packets transmitted by the user have QoS bits set in accordance with the QoS level for the user.

3. A method of setting the Quality of Service bits of packets sent by a user of a data communications network, comprising:

initiating a request to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server in response to the user'"'"'s attempt to log-in;

receiving, in response to said request, a user service profile corresponding to the user, said user service profile including a Quality of Service field;

using said Quality of Service field to set QoS bits within packets transmitted by the user.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein all packets transmitted by the user have QoS bits set in accordance with said Quality of Service field of said user service profile.

5. A method of setting the Quality of Service bits of packets sent by a user of a data communications network, comprising:

at a service selection gateway to which the user is in communication a request from the user to assign a particular Quality of Service level to at least one packet flow transmitted by the user;

assigning, in response to said request, a Quality of Service level to said at least one packet flow;

setting QoS bits within packets belonging to said at least one packet flow received at the service selection gateway in accordance with said Quality of Service level; and

transmitting said packets belonging to said at least one packet flow to the data communications network.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein all said packets of said at least one packet flow in an IP packet.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said QoS bits are the precedence bits within the ToS/Differentiated Services field of said IP packets.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising:

communicating between the service selection gateway and an AAA server said request.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

communicating between the service selection gateway and the AAA server information related to the quantity of packets transmitted by the user and modified by the service selection gateway with respect to the QoS bits.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

communicating between the service selection gateway and the AAA server information related to the duration of time that packets transmitted by the user are modified by the service selection gateway with respect to the QoS bits.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

communicating between the service selection gateway and the AAA server information related to the quantity of packets transmitted by the user and modified by the service selection gateway with respect to the QoS bits.

12. An apparatus for setting Quality of Service (QoS) bits of packets sent by a user of a data communications system to the data communications system, said apparatus comprising:

a service selection gateway (SSG) in communication with the user, said SSG also in communication with an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, said SSG receiving a user service profile including a QoS level from the AAA server in response to an attempt to log-in by the user; and

a packet modifier associated with said SSG, said packet modifier modifying QoS bits of packets sent by the user to reflect the QoS level received for the user from the AAA server.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein all packets transmitted by the user to the data communications network via the SSG are modified.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein packets belonging to at least one flow of packets transmitted by the user to the data communications network via the SSG are modified.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein all modified packets are IP packets.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein all modified packets are IP packets.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the QoS bits are the precedence bits in the ToS/Differentiated Services field of the IP packet.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the QoS bits are the precedence bits in the ToS/Differentiated Service field of the IP packet.

19. An apparatus for setting Quality of Service (QoS) indicator bits of packets sent by a user of a data communications system to the data communications system, said apparatus comprising:

a service selection gateway (SSG) in communication with the user and the data communications network;

a packet modifier associated with said SSG, responsive to a QoS request by the user, setting a QoS bit field of packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said QoS bit field is set to a value specified in said QoS request.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said QoS bit field is set for all packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said QoS bit field is set for all packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG which packets belong to at least one packet flow specified in said QoS request.

23. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the number of packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG which are modified in accordance with said QoS request.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the number of packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG which are modified in accordance with said QoS request.

25. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the number of packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG which are modified in accordance with said QoS request.

26. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the number of packets sent by the user to the data communications network via the SSG which are modified in accordance with said QoS request.

27. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the amount of time that said QoS request is in effect.

28. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the amount of time that said QoS request is in effect.

29. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the amount of time that said QoS request is in effect.

30. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said SSG is in communication with an AAA server and sends the AAA server information relating to the amount of time that said QoS request is in effect.