Patent ID: 9270582
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method implemented in an initiating node, the method comprising: detecting that at least one Quality of Service (QoS) requirement is met, wherein the QoS requirement indicates that an expected packet from a source node in a multi-hop network comprising multiple nodes is outstanding, wherein the expected packet is designated as a very important packet (VIP); sending a first message via a communication channel to an adjacent node in response to the detecting that at least one QoS requirement is met, wherein the communication channel is divided into a plurality of virtual channels, wherein at least one of the plurality of virtual channels is a reserved virtual channel (VIP channel) that is activated when a VIP protocol is activated, wherein the VIP channel is a dedicated channel that can be accessed only by the initiating node and the adjacent node, and wherein the VIP protocol is activated in response to the first message to locate the expected packet; and receiving the VIP via the VIP channel.