QoS-aware service flow mapping in mobile wireless all IP networks

• US 20080002592A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stammers, Timothy P., Oswal, Anand K., Yegani, Parviz
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 Traffic shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2491 Mapping quality of service [QoS] requirements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

In one embodiment, techniques provide QoS-aware service flow mapping in an access network. A message is received from an access device at a gateway in the access network. The message includes a traffic flow specification. The traffic flow specification may include packet filter information, which is used to install a packet filter to route traffic to the access device. The gateway creates a session and associates the packet filter with it. When an incoming packet is received at the network device, the packet is matched to the packet filter. The incoming packet is then sent to the access device for the session. The traffic flow specification may also specify QoS parameters that are desired. The QoS parameters may then be applied to the packet sent to the access device. The gateway and access device may negotiate to determine a QoS to apply.

Claims

1. A method for service flow mapping in an access network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from an access device at a network device in the access network, the message including a traffic flow specification;

determining a packet filter and a QoS for the traffic flow specification;

associating the packet filter and the QoS with a session created for the access device;

receiving an incoming packet at the network device;

determining that the packet is for the session using the packet filter; and

sending the packet to the access device based on the QoS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the QoS is dynamically provisioned for the session based on the received message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic flow specification includes a first QoS, the method further comprising:

negotiating with the access device to determine a second QoS to apply to the session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein negotiating comprises:

sending a second message to the access device with an indication the second QoS can be supported; and

receiving an acknowledgment to apply the second QoS.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second message from an access device at the network device in the access network, the message including a second traffic flow specification;

determining a second session in which to associate a second packet filter for the traffic flow specification;

receiving a second incoming packet at the network device;

determining that the second packet is for the second session using the second packet filter; and

sending the second packet to the access device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a second QoS to apply to the second session based on the second traffic flow specification; and

applying the second QoS in sending the second packet to the access device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet filter comprises an N-tuple, the N-tuple determined based on the traffic flow specification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message from the access device comprises intercepting the message, wherein the message is addressed to a destination other than the network device.

9. A network device configured to provide service flow mapping in an access network, the network device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of steps comprising;

receiving a message from an access device at a network device in the access network, the message including a traffic flow specification;

determining a packet filter and a QoS for the traffic flow specification;

associating the packet filter and the QoS with a session created for the access device;

receiving an incoming packet at the network device;

determining that the packet is for the session using the packet filter; and

sending the packet to the access device based on the QoS.

10. The network device of claim 9, wherein the QoS is dynamically provisioned for the session based on the received message.

11. The network device of claim 9, wherein the traffic flow specification includes a first QoS, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform a further step comprising:

negotiating with the access device to determine a second QoS to apply to the session.

12. The network device of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

sending a second message to the access device with an indication the second QoS can be supported; and

receiving an acknowledgment to apply the second QoS.

13. The network device of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

receiving a second message from an access device at the network device in the access network, the message including a second traffic flow specification;

determining a second session in which to associate a second packet filter for the traffic flow specification;

receiving a second incoming packet at the network device;

determining that the second packet is for the second session using the second packet filter; and

sending the second packet to the access device.

14. The network device of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

determining a second QoS to apply to the second session based on the second traffic flow specification; and

applying the second QoS in sending the second packet to the access device.

15. The network device of claim 9, wherein the packet filter comprises an N-tuple, the N-tuple determined based on the traffic flow specification.

16. The network device of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to intercept the message, wherein the message is addressed to a destination other than the network device.

17. An apparatus configured to provide service flow mapping in an access network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a message from an access device at a network device in the access network, the message including a traffic flow specification;

means for determining a packet filter and a QoS for the traffic flow specification;

means for associating the packet filter and the QoS with a session created for the access device;

means for receiving an incoming packet at the network device;

means for determining that the packet is for the session using the packet filter; and

means for sending the packet to the access device based on the QoS.

18. A method for service flow mapping in an access network, the method comprising:

generating a traffic flow specification;

sending, from an access device, a message to a network device in the access network, the message including the traffic flow specification; and

receiving an incoming packet from the network device for a session, the incoming packet received based on a packet filter and a QoS installed at the network device for the traffic flow specification.

19. The method of claim 18,wherein the traffic flow specification includes a first QoS, the method further comprising:

negotiating with the network device to determine a second QoS to apply to the session.

20. The-method of claim 19, wherein negotiating comprises:

sending a second message to the network device with an indication the second QoS can be supported, wherein the second QoS is applied.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a second traffic flow specification;

sending, from the access device, a second message to a network device in the access network, the second message including the traffic flow specification; and

receiving a second incoming packet from the network device for a second session, the incoming packet received based on a second packet filter and a second QoS installed at the network device for the second traffic flow specification.

22. A network device configured to provide service flow mapping in an access network, the network device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of steps comprising;

generating a traffic flow specification;

sending, from an access device, a message to a network device in the access network, the message including the traffic flow specification; and

receiving an incoming packet from the network device for a session, the incoming packet received based on a packet filter and a QoS installed at the network device for the traffic flow specification.

23. The network device of claim 22,wherein the traffic flow specification includes a first QoS, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform a further step comprising:

negotiating with the network device to determine a second QoS to apply to the session.

24. The network device of claim 23, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

sending a second message to the network device with an indication the second QoS can be supported, wherein the second QoS is applied.

25. The network device of claim 22, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform further steps comprising:

generating a second traffic flow specification;

sending, from the access device, a second message to a network device in the access network, the second message including the traffic flow specification; and

receiving a second incoming packet from the network device for a second session, the incoming packet received based on a second packet filter and a second QoS installed at the network device for the second traffic flow specification.