Patent ID: 7096260
Filing Date: 2006-08-22
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for marking one or more packets of data in a packet-switched network based on achieved flow bandwidth information within the network, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving a first group of one or more packets of a data flow at a router in the network; marking the first group of one or more packets of said data flow with a first behavioral treatment value, wherein the first behavioral treatment value directs devices within the network to treat the first group of one or more packets with a first quality of service treatment; transmitting the first group of one or more packets of said data flow in the network; determining an achieved flow bandwidth for the data flow based on data traffic within the network; determining packet flow characteristics of the first group of one or more packets of said data flow; determining a second behavioral treatment value based on the achieved flow bandwidth for the data flow within the network and on the packet flow characteristics of the first group of one or more packets of the data flow; receiving a second group of one or more packets of said data flow from at the router in the network; marking the second group of one or more packets of said data flow with said second behavioral treatment value, wherein the second behavioral treatment value directs devices within the network to treat the second group of one or more packets with a second quality of service treatment that is different than the first quality of service treatment; transmitting the second group of one or more packets of said data flow in the network; and repeating the preceding steps for successive groups of one or more packets of said data flow, wherein each of the successive groups is dynamically marked with a behavioral treatment value that is determined based at least in part on a successively determined achieved flow bandwidth for the data flow.