Patent ID: 7143168
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a computer network having a plurality of entities interconnected by a plurality of intermediate network devices having one or more resources for use in forwarding network traffic corresponding to sessions, a method for sharing resources reserved for a first data flow with a second data flow, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first resource reservation message associated with the first data flow, the first resource reservation message corresponding to a first session group identifier (ID); reserving resources for use with the first data flow; receiving a second resource reservation message associated with the second data flow, the second resource reservation message corresponding to a second session group ID; comparing the first session group ID to the second session group ID; and if the two session group IDs match, determining if the first data flow is sharing the resources reserved for use with the first data flow with a third data flow that has a session group ID that differs from the first session group ID and if not, sharing the resources reserved for use with the first data flow with the second data flow, and wherein the first, second and third session group identifiers include one or more data flow sources and one or more data flow destinations.