Method and system for tagging content for preferred transport

• US 20040199604A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ellacoya Networks, Inc. (NetScout Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ellacoya Networks, Inc. (NetScout Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sege, Ronald A., Dobbins, Kurt A.
• Application Number:
  US10/673,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• 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 47/31 by tagging of packets, e.g. using discard eligibility [DE] bits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

Methods and systems for identifying and preferring certain content transmissions over others for transport in a multiple subscriber computer network, such as public broadband access network. Preferred transport includes exempting participating content transmissions from bandwidth preservation policies, such as byte capping or rate limiting, or permitting the broadband access network provider to bill for certain identified content transmissions. The participating content transmissions are identified on a number of bases including by sending or receiving application, or by use of tags embedded by the content originator, sender or distributor. Those tagging techniques are also usable to enforce the content owner'"'"'s distribution rights.

Claims

1. A content tag associated with a content, the content tag comprising:

a content tag indicating the type of service to accord to the content;

wherein the content tag is created in a first instance;

wherein the content tag is read in an instance of network transmission; and

wherein flow information is generated for the content, the flow information including information specifying the type of service indicated in the content tag; and

wherein at least part of the content is transmitted according to the type of service specified by the flow information.