Frame based quality of service

• US 6,169,748 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Homberg, Michael J., Barbas, Steve N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/427,361
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/412, 370/413, 370/428, 370/429, 370/468, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/415, 370/417
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5636 Monitoring or policing, e.g. compliance with allocated rate, corrective actions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5638 Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5647 Cell loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5651 Priority, marking, classes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5682 Threshold; Watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5687 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/16 in connection oriented networks, e.g. frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/17 Interaction among intermediate nodes, e.g. hop by hop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/225 Determination of shaping rate, e.g. using a moving window
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/245 using preemption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/27 : Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 : using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 : in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 : by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/39 : Credit based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 : Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6215 : Individual queue per QOS, rate or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6225 : Fixed service order, e.g. Round Robin
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS

Abstract

A system and method for providing QoS levels to received data units, such as ATM cells and/or Frame Relay Frames. A QoS level associated with a virtual connection is supported through allocation and management of resources used to process data units received over the connection. Resources used to support QoS levels are assigned to groups of connections referred to as “QoS groups”. Resources used to support one group of connections may be isolated from resources supporting other connections. When a connection is established, if a QoS group exists having the QoS level of the new connection, the connection may be added to that QoS group. Similarly, where the QoS levels for multiple connections must be modified, if those connections are within a single QoS group, then modification of the QoS level for that group would advantageously result in modification of the QoS for each virtual connection within the QoS group.

Claims

1. A method of providing quality of service levels to received data units, comprising:

assigning a plurality of virtual connections to a first quality of service group;

associating at least a first quality of service level with said first quality of service group;

allocating at least a first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections, said first resource sufficient to support said first quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said plurality of virtual connections;

assigning at least one virtual connection to a second quality of service group, said at least one virtual connection not one of said plurality of virtual connections;

associating a second quality of service level with said second quality of service group;

allocating at least a second resource for processing data units received over said at least one virtual connection, said second resource sufficient to support said second quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said at least one virtual connection;

preventing said second resource from being used to process said received data units associated with said first quality of service group;

receiving a request to establish a new virtual connection, said request including a third quality of service level;

determining whether said third quality of service level is equal to said first quality of service level;

determining whether said third quality of service is equal to said second quality of service level;

forming, in the event that said third quality of service level is not equal to said first quality of service level and is not equal to said second quality of service level, a third quality of service group;

assigning said third quality of service level to said third quality of service group; and

assigning said new virtual connection to said third quality of service group.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

assigning, in the event that said third quality of service level is equal to said first quality of service level, said new virtual connection to said first quality of service group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

assigning, in the event that said third quality of service level is equal to said second quality of service level, said new virtual connection to said second quality of service group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said received data units are Asynchronous Transfer Mode cells.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said received data units are Frame Relay Frames.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first quality of service level reflects a delay sensitivity of said received data units associated with each of said plurality of virtual connections.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first quality of service level reflects a loss sensitivity for said received data units associated with each of said plurality of virtual connections.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one receive buffer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one receive queue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one flow control credit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes an allocation of output link bandwidth.

12. A method of providing quality of service levels to received data units, comprising:

assigning a plurality of virtual connections to a first quality of service group;

associating at least a first quality of service level with said first quality of service group;

allocating at least a first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections, said first resource sufficient to support said first quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said plurality of virtual connections;

receiving a request to assign a new quality of service level to each of said plurality of virtual connections; and

modifying said first quality of service level to said new quality of service level.

13. A system for providing quality of service levels to received data units, comprising:

a controller operable to

assign a plurality of virtual connections to a first quality of service group,

associate at least a first quality of service level with said first quality of service group,

allocate at least a first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections, said first resource sufficient to support said first quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said plurality of virtual connections,

assign at least one virtual connection to a second quality of service group, said at least one virtual connection not one of said plurality of virtual connections,

associate a second quality of service level with said second quality of service group,

allocate at least a second resource for processing data units received over said at least one virtual connection, said second resource sufficient to support said second quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said at least one virtual connection,

prevent said second resource from being used to process said received data units associated with said at least one virtual connection

receive a request to establish a new virtual connection, said request including a third quality of service level, and for determining whether said third quality of service level is equal to said first quality of service level

determine whether said third quality of service is equal to said second quality of service level

form, in the event that said third quality of service level is not equal to said first quality of service level and is not equal to said second quality of service level, a third quality of service group,

assign said third quality of service level to said third quality of service group, and

assign said new virtual connection to said third quality of service group.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller is further operable further operable to

assign, in the event that said third quality of service level is equal to said first quality of service level, said new virtual connection to said first quality of service group.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said controller is further operable to

assign, in the event that said third quality of service level is equal to said second quality of service level, said new virtual connection to said second quality of service group.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said received data units are Asynchronous Transfer Mode cells.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said received data units are Frame Relay Frames.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said first quality of service level reflects a delay sensitivity for said received data units associated with each of said plurality of virtual connections.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said first quality of service level reflects a loss sensitivity for said received data units associated with each of said plurality of virtual connections.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one receive buffer.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one receive queue.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes at least one flow control credit.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein said first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections includes an allocation of output link bandwidth.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller comprises:

a processor;

a memory;

program code, stored in said memory, said program code executable on said processor.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller comprises:

at least one application specific integrated circuit.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller comprises:

at least one field programmable gate array.

27. A system for providing quality of service levels to received data units, comprising:

a controller operable to

assign a plurality of virtual connections to a first quality of service group,

associate at least a first quality of service level with said first quality of service group,

allocate at least a first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections, said first resource sufficient to support said first quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said plurality of virtual connections; and

wherein said controller is further operable to receive a request to assign a new quality of service level to each of said plurality of virtual connections, and to modify said first quality of service level to said new quality of service level.

28. A system for providing quality of service levels to received data units, comprising:

means for assigning a plurality of virtual connections to a first quality of service group;

means for associating at least a first quality of service level with said first quality of service group; and

means for allocating at least a first resource for processing data units received over said plurality of virtual connections, said first resource sufficient to support said first quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said plurality of virtual connections;

means for assigning at least one virtual connection to a second quality of service group, said at least one virtual connection not one of said plurality of virtual connections;

means for associating a second quality of service level with said second quality of service group;

means for allocating at least a second resource for processing data units received over said at least one virtual connection, said second resource sufficient to support said second quality of service level with respect to received data units associated with said at least one virtual connection;

means for preventing said second resource from being used to process said received data units associated with said at least one virtual connection;

means for receiving a request to establish a new virtual connection, said request including a third quality of service level, and for determining whether said third quality of service level is equal to said first quality of service level;

means for determining whether said third quality of service is equal to said second quality of service level

means for forming, in the event that said third quality of service level is not equal to said first quality of service level and is not equal to said second quality of service level, a third quality of service group;

means for assigning said third quality of service level to said third quality of service group; and

means for assigning said new virtual connection to said third quality of service group.