Method and apparatus for policy and admission control in packet-based communication systems
First Claim
1. In a communication system, a method for establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- requesting a resource from the network utilizing a first protocol;
while the request is pending, commencing transmission of packets at a first priority level higher than a priority level of Best Effort (BE) traffic in the network; and
after a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, utilizing a tagging mechanism to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level;
wherein the first priority level is implemented for a first one of the packets by setting a designated portion of a header of the first packet to a value specifying a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy; and
wherein the second priority level is implemented for a second one of the packets by setting the designated portion of a header of the second packet to a value specifying an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy;
transition between use of the BBE policy and use of the EF policy thereby being conditioned on success or failure of the request for the resource, with a transition from use of the BBE policy to use of the EF policy occurring if the request is granted, and the policy in use otherwise remaining the BBE policy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, in a manner which reduces the latency and complexity associated with call setup. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a resource is requested from the network utilizing a first protocol, and while the request is pending, transmission of packets at a first priority level is commenced. After a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, a tagging mechanism is utilized to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level. In an illustrative embodiment, the first protocol is the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), the first priority level corresponds to a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy, and the second, higher priority level corresponds to an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy. These policy levels may be implemented for a given packet by setting a Type of Service (TOS) byte in a header of the given packet to a value specifying the corresponding policy.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a communication system, a method for establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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requesting a resource from the network utilizing a first protocol; while the request is pending, commencing transmission of packets at a first priority level higher than a priority level of Best Effort (BE) traffic in the network; and after a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, utilizing a tagging mechanism to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level; wherein the first priority level is implemented for a first one of the packets by setting a designated portion of a header of the first packet to a value specifying a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy; and wherein the second priority level is implemented for a second one of the packets by setting the designated portion of a header of the second packet to a value specifying an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy; transition between use of the BBE policy and use of the EF policy thereby being conditioned on success or failure of the request for the resource, with a transition from use of the BBE policy to use of the EF policy occurring if the request is granted, and the policy in use otherwise remaining the BBE policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for use in establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, the apparatus comprising at least one processing device having a processor coupled to a memory and being operative to perform a setup process for establishing the communication, wherein as part of the setup process:
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a resource is requested from the network utilizing a first protocol; while the request is pending, transmission of packets at a first priority level is commenced, wherein the first priority level is higher than a priority level of Best Effort (BE) traffic in the network; and after a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, a tagging mechanism is utilized to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level; wherein the first priority level is implemented for a first one of the packets by setting a designated portion of a header of the first packet to a value specifying a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy; and wherein the second priority level is implemented for a second one of the packets by setting the designated portion of a header of the second packet to a value specifying an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy; transition between use of the BBE policy and use of the EF policy thereby being conditioned on success or failure of the request for the resource, with a transition from use of the BBE policy to use of the EF policy occurring if the request is granted, and the policy in use otherwise remaining the BBE policy. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A machine-readable storage medium having embodied therein one or more software programs for use in establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, the one or more software programs being operative to perform a setup process for establishing the communication, wherein as part of the setup process:
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a resource is requested from the network utilizing a first protocol; while the request is pending, transmission of packets at a first priority level is commenced, wherein the first priority level is higher than a priority level of Best Effort (BE) traffic in the network; and after a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, a tagging mechanism is utilized to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level; wherein the first priority level is implemented for a first one of the packets by setting a designated portion of a header of the first packet to a value specifying a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy; and wherein the second priority level is implemented for a second one of the packets by setting the designated portion of a header of the second packet to a value specifying an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy; transition between use of the BBE policy and use of the EF policy thereby being conditioned on success or failure of the request for the resource, with a transition from use of the BBE policy to use of the EF policy occurring if the request is granted, and the policy in use otherwise remaining the BBE policy.
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Specification