Patent ID: 8363545
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling the flow of data packet traffic from a first point to at least a second point in an Ethernet LAN telecommunications network having a multiplicity of nodes interconnected by multiple physical network links, comprising using circuitry, monitoring the level of utilization of a link between said first and second points, using circuitry, generating flow control messages representing said level of utilization and transmitting said flow control messages to said first point, wherein said flow control messages comprise notifications at both a subscriber level and a trunk level, and using states represented in said flow control messages as factors in controlling the rate at which said packets are transmitted from said first point to said second point, wherein the states represented in said flow control messages are used to control said rate at both subscriber and trunk levels at a plurality of nodes between said first point and said second point with said subscriber levels controlled at each of said first point and said second point via a subscriber shaper and with said trunk levels controlled at trunk interfaces via a pair of trunk shapers at each of said trunk interfaces.