METHODS AND DEVICES FOR REGULATING TRAFFIC ON A NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method of controlling bandwidth utilization of a network subscriber, comprising:
- regulating bursty traffic by using a token bucket having a capacity for a plurality of tokens, each token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a unit of data, the tokens being added to the token bucket at a rate that equals the capacity divided by a first time period;
calculating a number of excess tokens that are not retained in the token bucket because the token bucket has reached the capacity; and
controlling bandwidth utilization of the network subscriber based in part on a calculated number of excess tokens during a second time period greater than the first time period.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for regulating traffic on a network. According to some aspects of the invention, if a subscriber'"'"'s upstream traffic exceeds a predetermined level over a first period of time, the subscriber'"'"'s quality of service is adjusted without requiring the subscriber to re-register. According to some embodiments, a first token bucket is used to determine whether the subscriber'"'"'s upstream traffic exceeds the predetermined level over the first period of time. In some such embodiments, the first token bucket is used to control the burst size of another token bucket, depending on the subscriber'"'"'s upstream traffic during the first period of time.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of controlling bandwidth utilization of a network subscriber, comprising:
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regulating bursty traffic by using a token bucket having a capacity for a plurality of tokens, each token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a unit of data, the tokens being added to the token bucket at a rate that equals the capacity divided by a first time period; calculating a number of excess tokens that are not retained in the token bucket because the token bucket has reached the capacity; and controlling bandwidth utilization of the network subscriber based in part on a calculated number of excess tokens during a second time period greater than the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A machine-readable medium having a computer program for controlling bandwidth utilization of a network subscriber stored thereon, the computer program including instructions for controlling at least one device to do the following:
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regulate bursty traffic by using a first token bucket having a first capacity B1 for first tokens, each first token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a unit of data, the first tokens added to the token bucket at a rate R1 that equals the first capacity B1 divided by a first time period T1; and control the first token bucket by using a second token bucket having a second capacity B2 for second tokens added to the second token bucket at a second rate R2 that equals the second capacity B2 divided by a second time period T2 greater than T1. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A machine-readable medium having a computer program for controlling bandwidth utilization of a network subscriber stored thereon, the computer program including instructions for controlling at least one device to do the following:
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regulate bursty traffic by using a first token bucket having a first capacity B1 for first tokens, each first token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a first unit of data; and control the first token bucket by using a second token bucket having a second capacity B2 for second tokens, each second token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a second unit of data, the second unit of data being at least 100 times greater than the first unit of data.
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14. An apparatus for controlling bandwidth utilization of a network subscriber, the apparatus configured to do the following:
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regulate bursty traffic by using a first token bucket having a first capacity B1 for first tokens, each first token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a first unit of data; and control the first token bucket by using a second token bucket having a second capacity B2 for second tokens, each second token authorizing the network subscriber to transmit a second unit of data, the second unit of data being at least 100 times greater than the first unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for monitoring the network subscriber'"'"'s upstream transmissions during a predetermined time period; and means for reducing the network subscriber'"'"'s quality of service automatically while the network subscriber is logged on if the network subscriber transmits more than a predetermined quantity of data during the predetermined time period.
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Specification