Methods and apparatus for traffic management in a communication network
First Claim
1. A method for management of traffic in a communication network comprising a first transport medium and a second transport medium connected in series with the first transport medium, access to the first transport medium controlled by a first Medium Access Controller (MAC), and access to the second transport medium controlled by a second MAC, wherein a traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium, the method comprising:
- receiving from the first MAC information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the first MAC;
using the received information, together with information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the second MAC, as input to making a medium access grant decision for the second MAC, wherein the medium access grant decision for the second MAC implements a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media; and
instructing implementation of the medium access grant decision for the second MAC.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method in a communication network is disclosed. The network comprises first and second transport mediums connected in series. Access to the first and second transport mediums is controlled by first and second MACs, respectively. A traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium. The method comprises receiving from the first MAC information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the first MAC. The method further comprises using the received information, together with information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the second MAC, as input to making a medium access grant decision for the second MAC, wherein the medium access grant decision for the second MAC implements a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media. The method also comprises instructing implementation of the medium access grant decision for the second MAC.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for management of traffic in a communication network comprising a first transport medium and a second transport medium connected in series with the first transport medium, access to the first transport medium controlled by a first Medium Access Controller (MAC), and access to the second transport medium controlled by a second MAC, wherein a traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium, the method comprising:
-
receiving from the first MAC information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the first MAC; using the received information, together with information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the second MAC, as input to making a medium access grant decision for the second MAC, wherein the medium access grant decision for the second MAC implements a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media; and instructing implementation of the medium access grant decision for the second MAC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for management of traffic in a communication network comprising a first transport medium and a second transport medium connected in series with the first transport medium, access to the first transport medium controlled by a first Medium Access Controller (MAC), and access to the second transport medium controlled by a second MAC, wherein a traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium, the method performed in the first MAC and comprising:
-
sending to another network entity information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the first MAC; receiving from the network entity a guidance instruction for a medium access grant decision for the first MAC, wherein the guidance instruction for the medium access grant decision for the first MAC implements, together with a medium access grant decision made in the network entity for the second MAC, a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media; and implementing the received guidance instruction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A network entity for management of traffic in a communication network comprising a first transport medium and a second transport medium connected in series with the first transport medium, access to the first transport medium controlled by a first Medium Access Controller (MAC), and access to the second transport medium controlled by a second MAC, wherein a traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium, the network entity comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the network entity is operative to:
-
receive from the first MAC information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the first MAC; use the received information, together with information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the second MAC, as input to making a medium access grant decision for the second MAC, wherein the medium access grant decision for the second MAC implements a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media; and instruct implementation of the medium access grant decision for the second MAC. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A Medium Access Controller (MAC) for management of traffic in a communication network comprising a first transport medium and a second transport medium connected in series with the first transport medium, access to the first transport medium controlled by the Medium Access Controller (MAC), and access to the second transport medium controlled by a second MAC, wherein a traffic client of the second MAC receives traffic on the first transport medium for forwarding to the second transport medium, the MAC comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the MAC is operable to:
-
send to another network entity information about traffic demands from traffic clients of the MAC; receive from the network entity a guidance instruction for a medium access grant decision for the MAC, wherein the guidance instruction for the medium access grant decision for the MAC implements, together with a medium access grant decision made in the network entity for the second MAC, a coordination between traffic access to the first and second transport media; and implement the received guidance instruction.
-
Specification