Patent ID: 6529499
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for providing a Quality of Service guarantee for delay sensitive traffic conveyed over a path within an Internet Protocol (IP) network having a virtual provisioning server, a source edge device providing an interface for launching said delay sensitive traffic within said IP network, said method comprising the steps of:receiving, at a signaling gateway, a value representing a bandwidth capacity for said path; receiving at said signaling gateway, a request to establish an additional delay sensitive traffic component over said path; comparing, at said signaling gateway, said value representing said bandwidth capacity for said path with a total bandwidth needed if said additional delay sensitive traffic component is established over said path; identifying, at said signaling gateway, at least one of a plurality of paths within said IP network as having a most limiting available bandwidth capacity, wherein the identified path has sufficient available bandwidth capacity to handle said additional delay sensitive traffic component; and limiting said quantity of said delay sensitive traffic launched from said source edge device to less than or equal to said most limiting available bandwidth capacity.