Call setup pacing in computer networks

• US 20040047288A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernard Putois, Claude Basso, Jason J. Hernandez, Philippe Damon
• Original Assignee: Bernard Putois, Claude Basso, Jason J. Hernandez, Philippe Damon
• Inventors: Damon, Philippe, Basso, Claude, Putois, Bernard, Hernandez, Jason J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• 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 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/821 Prioritising resource allocation or reservation requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A node in a computer network predefines a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node, and predefines a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node. The node detects each new incoming CSM in the network node. The node rejects each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max). Otherwise, the node accepts each new incoming CSM that is not rejected. Also the node rejects each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max).

Claims

1. A method for operating a node in a computer network to prevent signaling congestion, comprising:

defining a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node;

defining a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

detecting each new incoming CSM in the network node;

rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max); and

accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max).

3. The method, according to claim 1, further comprising:

filtering each new incoming CSM to determine whether said CSM satisfies at least one predefined filtering criterion, and accepting said incoming CSM if it does not satisfy any of said at least one predefined criterion.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the filtering criterion comprises:

a network address.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

incrementing a counter (CNT) each time an incoming CSM is received;

decrementing said counter (CNT) each time a CSM is processed; and

comparing the current value of said counter (CNT) to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

incrementing a counter (CNT) each time an incoming CSM is received;

determining the value of the counter reached during the current time window; and

comparing the value of the counter reached during the current time window to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

employing the node as a network switching device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

employing the node as a database server.

28. A computer readable media, comprising:

said computer readable media having instructions written thereon for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 1 or claim 9.

29. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:

said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 1 or claim 9.

9. A method for operating a node in a computer network to prevent signaling congestion, comprising:

defining a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node;

defining a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

detecting each new incoming CSM in the network node;

rejecting each new incoming CSM if

the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max);

OR

the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max);

accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.

10. A node in a computer network, comprising:

a processor to define a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node and to predefine a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

a detector to detect each new incoming CSM in the node;

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max);

means for accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.

11. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max).

12. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for filtering each new incoming CSM to determine whether said CSM satisfies at least one predefined filtering criterion, and accepting said incoming CSM if it does not satisfy any of said at least one predefined criterion.

13. The node according to claim 12 further comprising:

the filtering criterion is a network address.

14. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

a counter (CNT) which is incremented each time an incoming CSM is received, and the counter (CNT) is decremented each time a CSM is processed; and

means for comparing the current value of said counter (CNT) to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

15. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

a counter (CNT) which is incremented each time an incoming CSM is received;

means for determining the value of the counter reached during the current time window; and

means for comparing the value of the counter reached during the current time window to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

16. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

the node is a network switching device.

17. The node according to claim 10, further comprising:

the node is a database server.

18. A node in a computer network, comprising:

a processor to define a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node, and to define a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

a detector to detect each new incoming CSM in the node;

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if

the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max);

OR

the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max);

means for accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.

19. A node in a computer network, comprising:

means for defining a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node;

means for defining a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

means for detecting each new incoming CSM in the network node;

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max);

means for accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.

20. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max).

21. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for filtering each new incoming CSM to determine whether said CSM satisfies at least one predefined filtering criterion, and accepting said incoming CSM if it does not satisfy any of said at least one predefined criterion.

22. The node according to claim 19 further comprising:

the filtering criterion is a network address.

23. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

a counter (CNT) which is incremented each time an incoming CSM is received, and the counter (CNT) is decremented each time a CSM is processed; and

means for comparing the current value of said counter (CNT) to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

24. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

a counter (CNT) which is incremented each time an incoming CSM is received;

means for determining the value of the counter reached during the current time window; and

means for comparing the value of the counter reached during the current time window to said threshold number (Max) to determine whether said incoming CSM should be rejected or processed further.

25. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

the node is a network switching device.

26. The node according to claim 19, further comprising:

the node is a database server.

27. A node in a computer network, comprising:

means for defining a threshold number (Max) as the maximum number of allowed call set up messages (CSMs) to be processed from a plurality of sources by the network node;

means for defining a time frame window as the time within which no more than the threshold number (Max) CSMs are accepted for processing by the network node;

means for detecting each new incoming CSM in the network node;

means for rejecting each new incoming CSM if

the number of CSMs currently being processed by the network node equals the threshold number (Max);

OR

the number of CSMs accepted for processing during the current time frame window equals the threshold number (Max);

means for accepting each new incoming CSM that is not rejected.