Method and system for redirecting networked traffic

• US 20060077951A1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Godas, Eric Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/304 Route determination for signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

A method of redirecting network traffic is described, in which traffic originating from a first network element is modified by rewriting the Type of Service field of an Internet Protocol packet, and the modified traffic is redirected to a second network element.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting network traffic, comprising:

receiving from a first network element traffic intended for a destination network element;

introducing a modification to the traffic by rewriting a portion of the traffic; and

based on the modification, redirecting the modified traffic to a second network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the traffic that is rewritten includes a Type of Service field.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a status of the first network element; and

associating the first network element with one of a quality of service profile and a service class name based on the status of the first network element,

wherein the traffic is modified based on the associated one of quality of service profile and service class name.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first network element is associated with the quality of service profile by downloading a configuration file to the first network element, the configuration file including a parameter that matches a parameter of the quality of service profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the configuration file is compliant with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element is a cable modem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic is modified by one of a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified traffic is redirected over an intermediary network via a tunnel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network element is a cache server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network element operates according to the Web Cache Communication Protocol.

11. A system to redirect Internet traffic, comprising:

a first arrangement to receive from a first network element traffic intended for a destination network element, and to introduce a modification to the traffic by re-writing a portion of the traffic; and

a second arrangement to redirect the modified traffic to a second network element based on the modification

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the portion of the traffic that is rewritten includes a Type of Service field.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second arrangement is configured to redirect the modified traffic over an intermediary network via a tunnel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second network element is a cache server.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second network element is configured to support the Web Cache Communication Protocol.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first network element is a cable modem.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first arrangement includes one of a quality of service profile or service class name associated with a configuration of the first network element.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the quality of service profile, the service class name, and the configuration of the first network element are compliant with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first arrangement includes a cable modem termination system.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the second arrangement includes at least one of a network switching element and a network routing element.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one networking switching element includes a headend switch and remote switch.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the first network element is a settop box.