Patent ID: 8880681
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for assigning information indicative of a network characteristic to one of a plurality of data units traversing a path across a network, said data units having associated therewith values indicative of said network characteristic, said path having at least one portion passing through a lower-capability region and at least one portion passing through a higher-capability region, said lower-capability region being a region in which information indicative of said network characteristic may be represented by values having a first resolution, and said higher-capability region being a region in which information indicative of said network characteristic may be represented by values having a second resolution, said second resolution being greater than said first resolution, said one data unit being a data unit entering said higher-capability region, said method comprising: monitoring a plurality of data units traversing said path and traversing from a lower-capability region to a higher-capability region; establishing from each of said plurality of data units respective values indicative of said network characteristic, said values each having said first resolution; determining a group value in dependence on each of a plurality of said respective values; assigning a new value having said second resolution to said one data unit entering said higher-capability region, said new value being dependent on said group value.