Patent ID: 6118785
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a system including a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, and through which a point-to-point data channel is established from a first end station through a first intermediate device through the network to a second end station, the point-to-point data channel operating according to a communication protocol between the first and second end stations, the first intermediate device including resources for managing use of bandwidth in the network, a method for improving network performance, comprising:detecting in the first intermediate device data frames in the point-to-point data channel the data frames being formatted according to the first communication protocol;processing said data frames in the intermediate device for transmission through the network using the resources for managing use of network bandwidth; andtransmitting from the first intermediate device to the first end station information related to the management of network bandwidth in a data frame formatted according to the first communication protocol.