System for pricing-based quality of service (PQoS) control in networks

• US 6,910,024 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Dao, Son, Sisalem, Dorgham, Krishnamurthy, Srikanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/777,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 700/108, 702/182, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/11, 705/400, 705/418
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1489 dependent on congestion
• 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 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2458 Modification of priorities while in transit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 : based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 : QoS

Abstract

A data flow system, where a source 100 transmits a reservation packet to an ingress element 102. The ingress element 102 polices incoming message traffic and collects data flow information. Quality of service differentiation is realized by marking data packets of different data flows. The ingress element 102 registers the reservation packet and forwards the request to a core router 106. The core router 106 evaluates the service level required, and available resources. Based on this evaluation the core router 106 will reject, accept, or modify the received message, indicate the price for the requested level of service, and forward the reservation packet. The process is repeated until the reservation packet reaches the destination 110, which sends a feedback message to the source 100 indicating the result of the reservation packet. After establishing a reservation, source 100 transmits periodic control messages and collects information regarding resource availability, and the flow path.

Claims

1. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets from user to user where the users each have financial limits, at least one service profile, application needs, and make user-to-user dynamic resource reservations;

and transmit data in the form of data packets having headers for the inclusion of data delivery-related data markings, wherein data packets are delivered from user to user through the apparatus, the apparatus comprising;

a computer network having dynamically allocated network resources including data transmission bandwidth and processor capacity, the computer network including;

a plurality of node systems, with the plurality of node systems includes a source node system and a destination node system;

a network cloud comprising;

a plurality of edge elements connected with the plurality of node systems such that each node system is connected with at least one edge element; and

a plurality of interconnected core routers, wherein the plurality of interconnected core routers is connected with the plurality of edge elements such that each of the edge elements is connected with at least one core router and such that each node system in the plurality of node systems is communicatively connected with each other node system in the plurality of node systems by a path through the network cloud; and

wherein the network resources are monitored and are configured to provide a plurality of predictable and dynamically allocatable quality of service levels, with each quality of service level guaranteeing a particular combination of network resources and including a price of service, with the price of service of each quality of service level set to optimize the admission of transmission data through the network and to avoid congestion within the network;

whereby users of the network use node systems to transmit data to other users using other node systems in the network with the transmission taking place through the network cloud, enabling the users to dynamically select a quality of service level depending on their needs and ability to pay the price.

2. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein if a user attempts to utilize resources beyond that user'"'"'s financial resources, the transmission will be handled by at least one of the following protocols:

i. ignoring the transmission;

ii. sending at lower service level; and

iii. sending as best effort traffic.

3. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein all elements except the network cloud are configured to operate as wireless nodes.

4. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the Internet provides the core routers, and wherein the users are terminals that are interfaced with the Internet.

5. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the network is an intranet, and financial limits are allocated based on at least one of the following:

the identity of a person operating a user node; and

the identification of the user node.

6. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet and price of service is denominated in currency.

7. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the quality of service level guarantees a particular combination of network resources such that the network supports at least one of the following:

i. telephony;

ii. video conferencing.

8. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the price of service of at least one quality for service level is adjusted based on at least one of the following:

i. anticipated network loading;

ii. stability of network load;

iii. predictability of network load.

9. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the purchase price is set at a level, which discourages network over-use to minimize congestion while maximizing overall profit from the network.

10. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein resource costs are distributed among all user nodes.

11. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 1, wherein the quality of service levels are selected from the group consisting of:

a. variable price and fixed quality of service;

b. fixed price and fixed quality of service;

c. fixed price and variable quality of service; and

d. hybrid services.

12. An apparatus for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 11, wherein the quality of service level is user-determined.

13. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets from user to user where the users each have financial limits, at least one service profile, application needs, and make user-to-user dynamic resource reservations;

and transmit data in the form of data packets having headers for the inclusion of data delivery-related data markings, wherein data packets are delivered from user to user using the method, the method comprising the following steps;

providing a computer network having dynamically allocated network resources including data transmission bandwidth and processor capacity, the provided computer network including;

a plurality of node systems, with the plurality of node systems includes a source node system and a destination node system;

a network cloud comprising;

a plurality of edge elements connected with the plurality of node systems such that each node system is connected with at least one edge element; and

a plurality of interconnected core routers, wherein the plurality of interconnected core routers is connected with the plurality of edge elements such that each of the edge elements is connected with at least one core router and such that each node system in the plurality of node systems is communicatively connected with each other node system in the plurality of node systems by a path through the network cloud; and

wherein the network resources are monitored and are configured to provide a plurality of predictable and dynamically allocatable quality of service levels, with each quality of service level guaranteeing a particular combination of network resources and including a price of service, with the price of service of each quality of service level set to optimize the admission of transmission data through the network and to avoid congestion within the network;

whereby users of the network use node systems to transmit data to other users using other node systems in the network with the transmission taking place through the network cloud, enabling the users to dynamically select a quality of service level depending on their needs and ability to pay the price.

14. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein if a user attempts to utilize resources beyond that user'"'"'s financial resources, the transmission will be handled by at least one of the following protocols:

i. ignoring the transmission;

ii. sending at lower service level; and

iii. sending as best effort traffic.

15. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein all elements except the network cloud are configured to operate as wireless nodes.

16. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the Internet provides the core routers, and wherein the users are terminals that are interfaced with the Internet.

17. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the network is an intranet, and financial limits are allocated based on at least one of the following:

the identity of a person operating a user node; and

the identification of the user node.

18. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the network is the Internet and price of service is denominated in currency.

19. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the quality of service level guarantees a particular combination of network resources such that the network supports at least one of the following:

i. telephony;

ii. video conferencing.

20. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the price of service of at least one quality for service level is adjusted based on at least one of the following:

i. anticipated network loading;

ii. stability of network load;

iii. predictability of network load.

21. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the purchase price is set at a level, which discourages network over-use to minimize congestion while maximizing overall profit from the network.

22. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein resource costs are distributed among all user nodes.

23. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 13, wherein the quality of service levels are selected from the group consisting of:

a. variable price and fixed quality of service;

b. fixed price and fixed quality of service;

c. fixed price and variable quality of service; and

d. hybrid services.

24. A method for pricing-based quality of service delivery of data packets as set forth in claim 23, wherein the quality of service level is user-determined.