Method and arrangement for network QoS

• US 9,054,966 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Thyni, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US14/090,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/228, 709/218, 709/224, 709/226, 709/232, 709/246, 709/250, 370/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components

Abstract

A method and intermediate node for service specific configuration of Quality of Service (QoS), preferably end-to-end QoS, in a data network by establishing and enforcing a service specific QoS configuration for a given service supported by a client device. The client device is adapted to be connected to a data network including a service management server and the intermediate node. The intermediate node receives from the service management server, a message including a service configuration for the given service. The service configuration includes information regarding the service specific QoS configuration.

Claims

1. A method in an intermediate node in a data network for establishing a service specific configuration of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), the node being configured to be connected to a service management server in the data network and to a client device that supports a plurality of different services, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the service management server, the message including service configuration information for a given one of the plurality of services supported by the client device and information regarding a service specific end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) configuration for the given service, wherein the service configuration information in the message includes a destination address associated with the service configuration, and wherein the end-to-end QoS configuration information in the service configuration information includes a QoS value for the given service associated with the destination address and with the intermediate node;

configuring the given service according to the service specific QoS value in the message received from the service management server; and

sending the received message to the client device, thereby enabling the client device to configure the given service therein according to the service specific QoS value so as to enable the given service to have the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration starting from the client device, continuing at the intermediate node, and ending at the destination address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is performed by Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) signaling:

receiving the message;

configuring the given service; and

sending the received message.

3. An intermediate node in a data network, the node being configured to be connected to a service management server in the data network and to a client device that supports a plurality of different services, the intermediate node comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a message from the service management server, the message including service configuration information for a given one of the plurality of services supported by the client device and information regarding a service specific end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) configuration for the given service, wherein the service configuration information in the message includes a destination address associated with the service configuration, and wherein the end-to-end QoS configuration information in the service configuration information includes a QoS value for the given service associated with the destination address and with the intermediate node;

a configuring unit configured to configure the given service according to the service specific QoS value in the message received from the service management server; and

a sending unit configured to send the received message to the client device, thereby enabling the client device to configure the given service therein according to the service specific QoS value so as to enable the given service to have the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration starting from the client device, continuing at the intermediate node, and ending at the destination address.

4. The intermediate node according to claim 3, further comprising a service management agent.

5. The intermediate node according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate node comprises one of an access node, a switch, and an edge router.

6. A method in an intermediate node in a data network for establishing a service specific configuration of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), the node being configured to be connected to a service management server in the data network and to a client device that supports a plurality of different services, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the service management server, the message including service configuration information for a given one of the plurality of services supported by the client device and information regarding a service specific end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) configuration for the given service, wherein the service configuration information in the message includes a destination address associated with the service configuration, and wherein the end-to-end QoS configuration information in the service configuration information includes a QoS value for the given service associated with the destination address and with the intermediate node;

configuring the given service according to the service specific QoS value in the message received from the service management server;

receiving from the client device, data traffic associated with the given service;

determining whether the received data traffic has a QoS configuration other than the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration for the given service; and

when the received data traffic has a QoS configuration other than the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration for the given service, adjusting the QoS configuration for the received data traffic to the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining and adjusting are performed by a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) agent in the intermediate node.

8. An intermediate node in a data network, the node being configured to be connected to a service management server in the data network and to a client device that supports a plurality of different services, the intermediate node comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a message from the service management server, the message including service configuration information for a given one of the plurality of services supported by the client device and information regarding a service specific end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) configuration for the given service, wherein the service configuration information in the message includes a destination address associated with the service configuration, and wherein the end-to-end QoS configuration information in the service configuration information includes a QoS value for the given service associated with the destination address and with the intermediate node;

a configuring unit adapted to configure the given service according to the service specific QoS value in the message received from the service management server; and

an agent configured to receive from the client device, data traffic associated with the given service, and to determine whether the received data traffic has a QoS configuration other than the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration for the given service, wherein when the received data traffic has a QoS configuration other than the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration for the given service, the agent is configured to adjust the QoS configuration for the received data traffic to the service specific end-to-end QoS configuration.

9. The intermediate node according to claim 8, wherein the agent is a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) agent.

10. The intermediate node according to claim 9, wherein the DHCP agent is one of a DHCP relay agent, a DHCP forwarding agent, and a DHCP intermediate agent.