PRELOADING TOKEN BUCKETS FOR DYNAMICALLY IMPLEMENTING SPEED INCREASES

• US 20110320631A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Finkelstein, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/215 using token-bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 Traffic shaping

Abstract

Providing a dynamic bandwidth increase using at least one token bucket is disclosed. At least one token bucket is pre-loaded to capacity using PCMM commands to dynamically implement speed increases in the network. By pre-loading the at least one token bucket to capacity, the rate cap assigned to the customer is overridden. When the token bucket is exhausted the customer continues at their provisioned rate cap. Only a configuration file has to be changed to implement the temporary bandwidth increase. The token buckets may be implemented on a per service flow basis. Further, a plurality of token buckets may be provided, wherein a first token bucket is configured to control a total burst size and a second token bucket is configured to control an individual flow burst rate up until the first token bucket is depleted.

Claims

1. A policy manager, comprising:

memory for storing data; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, the processor configured to implement at least one token bucket having parameters for controlling the amount of data injected into a network, the processor receiving and processing packet cable multimedia commands to dynamically configure the parameters of the at least one token bucket to provide a temporary bandwidth increase, the temporary bandwidth increase provided by preloading the token bucket to capacity.

2. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the token buckets are implemented on a per service flow basis.

3. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the at least one token bucket comprises a plurality of token buckets, a first of the plurality of token buckets being configured to control a total burst size and at least a second of the plurality of token buckets being configured to control an individual flow burst rate up until the first token bucket is depleted.

4. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the at least one token bucket includes a size of a token, a size of the at least one token bucket identifying a capacity for holding tokens and an aperture for determining a rate tokens are removed from the at least one token bucket, wherein the at least one token bucket controls an initial burst related to an individual flow.

5. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor enlarges the size of the at least one token bucket in response to the received packet cable multimedia command.

6. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor enlarges the aperture for allowing tokens to be released from the at least one token bucket in response to the received packet cable multimedia command.

7. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the packet cable multimedia command comprises a configuration file for storing in the memory, the processor accessing the configuration file to implement the at least one token bucket in accordance with parameters provided in the configuration file.

8. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the packet cable multimedia command is generated automatically based on the processor detecting a predetermined trigger.

9. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the packet cable multimedia command is initiated by a subscriber.

10. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the packet cable multimedia command is initiated by a service provider on behalf of a subscriber.

11. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the packet cable multimedia command is initiated by a third party and authenticated by the processor.

12. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor returns a subscriber to a provisioned rate cap when the at least one token bucket is exhausted.

13. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor imposes a limit to control the number of times a subscriber can initiate a bandwidth increase within a predetermined time period.

14. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor provides a temporary bandwidth increase for a gaming application.

15. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor provides a temporary bandwidth increase for a file upload application.

16. The policy manager of claim 1, wherein the processor provides a temporary bandwidth increase for a media streaming application.

17. A network for providing a dynamic bandwidth increase using a token bucket, comprising:

a policy manager configured storing data and for implementing at least one token bucket having parameters for controlling the amount of data injected into a network, the policy manager including a processor for receiving and processing packet cable multimedia commands to dynamically configure the parameters of the at least one token bucket to provide a temporary bandwidth increase, the policy manger generating a bandwidth setting command requesting a temporary bandwidth increase by preloading the at least one token bucket to capacity; and

a cable modem termination system, coupled to the policy manager, for receiving the bandwidth setting command from the policy manager, the cable modem termination system establishing an increased bandwidth for a subscriber based on the receipt of the bandwidth setting command from the policy manager.

18. A method for providing a dynamic bandwidth increase using a token bucket, comprising:

storing configuration data file;

receiving and processing a packet cable multimedia command for modifying the configuration data file;

dynamically configuring parameters of at least one token bucket to provide a temporary bandwidth increase based on the packet cable multimedia command; and

preloading the at least one token bucket to capacity in response to the dynamically configuring the parameters of the at least one token bucket.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the dynamically configuring parameters of at least one token bucket further comprises implementing token buckets on a per service flow basis.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the dynamically configuring parameters of at least one token bucket further comprises dynamically configuring parameters of a plurality of token buckets, a first of the plurality of token buckets being configured to control a total burst size and at least a second of the plurality of token buckets being configured to control an individual flow burst rate up until the first token bucket is depleted.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the dynamically configuring parameters of the at least one token bucket comprises configuring a size of at least one token bucket for identifying a capacity for holding tokens and an aperture for determining a rate tokens are removed from the at least one token bucket.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the dynamically configuring parameters of the at least one token bucket comprises enlarging the size of the at least one token bucket in response to the received packet cable multimedia command, wherein the at least one token bucket controls an initial burst related to an individual flow.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the dynamically configuring parameters of the at least one token bucket comprises enlarging the aperture for allowing tokens to be released from the at least one token bucket in response to the received packet cable multimedia command.

24. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing a dynamic bandwidth increase using a token bucket, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

storing configuration data file;

receiving and processing a packet cable multimedia command for modifying the configuration data file;

dynamically configuring parameters of at least one token bucket to provide a temporary bandwidth increase based on the packet cable multimedia command; and

preloading the token bucket to capacity in response to the dynamically configuring the parameters of the at least one token bucket.