Patent ID: 7477601
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a data communications device, a method for managing a flow of packets, comprising: transferring packets of a particular packet flow from input ports to output ports of the data communications device based on an initial policy scheme controlling an initial manner in which the packets are transferred from the input ports to the output ports of the data communications device; planning a scheme change to change the initial policy scheme to a new policy scheme based on transfer conditions within the data communications device existing while transferring the packets of the particular flow based on the initial policy scheme, the new policy scheme controlling a new manner in which the packets are transferred from the input ports to the output ports of the data communications device; and providing a change signal to a source of the particular packet flow, the change signal indicating that the data communications device has planned the scheme change, wherein the data communications device is a first computerized node of a network, the source of the particular packet flow is a second computerized node of the network coupled to the first computerized node by a packet transmission medium, and providing the change signal comprises transmitting a change signal packet into the network destined for the second computerized node and further comprising: accepting a reply signal from the source; changing the initial policy scheme to the new policy scheme when contents within a reply field of the reply signal represent a first value; and maintaining the initial policy scheme when the contents within the reply field of the reply signal represent a second value that is different than the first value.