Patent Description:
Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts may be referred to by like references, and in which:.

A network device (e.g., an ingress label switch router (LSR)) may implement an automatic bandwidth adjustment policy (e.g., "policy") that may enable the network device to adjust a bandwidth reservation of an LSP based on monitoring bandwidth usage of the LSP. For example, the network device may determine a bandwidth usage value of the LSP at a sample interval (e.g., every five minutes), and may adjust a bandwidth reservation of the LSP at the end of an adjustment interval (e.g., two hours). In this way, a bandwidth reservation of the LSP may be adjusted based on actual demand of the LSP.

In some cases, a network operator may apply a universal policy to multiple LSPs associated with a network (e.g., a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network). For example, network traffic, associated with each LSP, may be sampled at a same sampling interval value, compared to a same threshold value, or the like, and/or a bandwidth reservation for each LSP may be adjusted according to a same adjustment interval value, or the like. Additionally, the same policy may be applied to multiple LSPs irrespective of characteristics and/or types of network traffic associated with each LSP. As an example, an LSP carrying streaming media traffic may exhibit different network traffic behavior than an LSP carrying virtual private network (VPN) traffic. Additionally, an LSP may exhibit different network traffic behavior based on a particular time frame (e.g., a time of day, a day of the week, a month, or the like). Thus, bandwidth usage of an LSP may be sampled too frequently or infrequently, and/or a bandwidth reservation of the LSP may be adjusted too frequently or infrequently based on the universal policy, thereby consuming processor and/or memory resources of network devices and/or network resources.

Implementations described herein enable a traffic profiling device to receive information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with an LSP, determine a policy based on the network traffic behavior, and implement the policy in association with the LSP. Thus, implementations described herein enable a network device to implement a policy that aligns with actual network traffic behavior of an LSP, may reduce a quantity of situations where too much or too little bandwidth is reserved for an LSP, may reduce situations where bandwidth usage of an LSP is sampled too frequently or infrequently, and/or may reduce a quantity of unnecessary bandwidth reservation adjustments associated with an LSP, thereby conserving processor and/or memory resources of network devices and/or network resources.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams of an overview of an example implementation <NUM> described herein. As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, a traffic profiling device (e.g., a server device) may receive information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with an LSP. As shown, an ingress routing device (e.g., an ingress LSR) may sample network traffic associated with particular LSPs, and may determine bandwidth usage values associated with the LSPs. For example, the ingress routing device may receive network traffic (e.g., streaming media traffic, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) traffic, or the like) from another routing device, such as a customer edge routing device (not shown). Additionally, the ingress routing device may attach a particular label, that corresponds to a particular LSP, to the network traffic based on a characteristic and/or type of the network traffic. The ingress routing device may provide, to the traffic profiling device, information that identifies bandwidth usage values associated with the LSPs across particular time frames. The traffic profiling device may analyze the information, and may determine network traffic behavior associated with the LSPs (e.g., bandwidth usage values, variations in bandwidth usage values across time frames, etc.).

As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, the traffic profiling device may determine an automatic bandwidth adjustment policy based on the network traffic behavior associated with the LSP. The policy may include multiple factors (and corresponding values) that may be used by the ingress routing device to adjust a bandwidth reservation associated with the LSP based on bandwidth usage values of the LSP. As an example, the policy may include a sample interval value, an adjustment interval value, an adjustment threshold value, an overflow threshold value, an underflow threshold value, and/or another value, as described elsewhere herein. In some implementations, the traffic profiling device may determine a value associated with a factor based on analyzing bandwidth usage values of the LSP, as described elsewhere herein.

As further shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, the traffic profiling device may provide, to the ingress routing device, information that identifies the policy. As shown by reference number <NUM>, the ingress routing device may implement the policy. For example, the ingress routing device may sample network traffic associated with the LSP in accordance with a sample interval value, may adjust a bandwidth reservation of the LSP at an expiration of an adjustment interval, may determine whether bandwidth usage values satisfy threshold values, or the like. In this way, the ingress routing device may implement a policy that is tailored to a particular LSP, which may reduce unnecessary sampling, may reduce unnecessary adjustment of bandwidth reservations, or the like.

Implementations described herein enable a traffic profiling device to determine a policy for an LSP based on actual network traffic behavior associated with the LSP. Implementations described herein may reduce situations where too much or too little bandwidth is reserved for a particular LSP, and/or may reduce a quantity of signaling messages (e.g., reservation adjustment signaling messages, or the like), thereby conserving processor and/or memory resources of network devices and/or conserving network resources.

As indicated above, <FIG> and <FIG> are provided merely as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram of an example environment <NUM> in which systems and/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, environment <NUM> may include an ingress routing device <NUM>, one or more routing devices <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-N (N ≥ <NUM>) (hereinafter referred to collectively as "routing devices <NUM>," and individually as "routing device <NUM>"), an egress routing device <NUM>, a traffic profiling device <NUM>, one or more label-switched paths (LSPs) <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-M (M ≥ <NUM>) (hereinafter referred to collectively as "LSPs <NUM>," and individually as "LSP <NUM>"), and a network <NUM>. Devices of environment <NUM> may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

Ingress routing device <NUM> includes one or more network devices (e.g., one or more traffic transfer devices) capable of processing and transferring network traffic (e.g., packets). For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may include a router (e.g., an ingress LSR), a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a server executing a virtual machine, etc.), a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a line card (e.g., in a chassis-based system), or a similar type of device. In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may provide, to traffic profiling device <NUM>, information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, ingress routing device <NUM> may receive, from traffic profiling device <NUM>, information that identifies a policy (e.g., determined by traffic profiling device <NUM> based on the network traffic behavior). Additionally, or alternatively, ingress routing device <NUM> may determine a policy based on monitoring network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>, and may implement the policy. In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may serve as a point of ingress to network <NUM> (e.g., an MPLS network).

As used herein, a packet may refer to a communication structure for communicating information, such as a protocol data unit (PDU), a network packet, a frame, a datagram, a segment, a message, a block, a cell, a frame, a subframe, a slot, a symbol, a portion of any of the above, and/or another type of formatted or unformatted unit of data capable of being transmitted via a network.

Routing device <NUM> includes one or more network devices (e.g., one or more traffic transfer devices) capable of processing and transferring network traffic. For example, routing device <NUM> may include a router (e.g., an LSR), a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a server executing a virtual machine, etc.), a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a line card (e.g., in a chassis-based system), or a similar type of device. In some implementations, routing device <NUM> may route packets within network <NUM> (e.g., an MPLS network).

Egress routing device <NUM> includes one or more network devices (e.g., one or more traffic transfer devices) capable of processing and transferring network traffic. For example, egress routing device <NUM> may include a router (e.g., an egress LSR), a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a server executing a virtual machine, etc.), a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a line card (e.g., in a chassis-based system), or a similar type of device. In some implementations, egress routing device <NUM> may serve as a point of egress from network <NUM> (e.g., an MPLS network).

LSP <NUM> includes one or more paths through network <NUM> (e.g., used by ingress routing device <NUM>, routing device <NUM>, and/or egress routing device <NUM> to carry network traffic). In some implementations, LSP <NUM> may include one or more paths associated with a flow of MPLS traffic.

Traffic profiling device <NUM> includes one or more devices capable of analyzing network traffic. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may include one or more network devices (e.g., one or more traffic transfer devices) and/or one or more computing devices. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may include a router, a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a server executing a virtual machine, etc.), a security device, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, a line card (e.g., in a chassis-based system), or a similar type of device.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may receive, from ingress routing device <NUM>, information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy associated with LSP <NUM> based on the network traffic behavior. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may monitor bandwidth usage values of LSP <NUM>, and may adjust a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> based on a policy. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may provide, to ingress routing device <NUM>, information that identifies a policy, and ingress routing device <NUM> may implement the policy. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may be integrated into and a part of one or more other devices shown in environment <NUM>, such as ingress routing device <NUM>, routing device <NUM>, and/or egress routing device <NUM>.

Network <NUM> includes a network associated with routing and/or forwarding traffic. For example, network <NUM> may a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) based network, an internet protocol (IP) based network, and/or another type of network through which traffic may travel.

<FIG> is a diagram of example components of a device <NUM>. Device <NUM> may correspond to ingress routing device <NUM>, routing device <NUM>, egress routing device <NUM>, and/or traffic profiling device <NUM>. In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM>, routing device <NUM>, egress routing device <NUM>, and/or traffic profiling device <NUM> may include one or more devices <NUM> and/or one or more components of device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, device <NUM> may include one or more input components <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-B (B ≥ <NUM>) (hereinafter referred to collectively as input components <NUM>, and individually as input component <NUM>), a switching component <NUM>, one or more output components <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-C (C ≥ <NUM>) (hereinafter referred to collectively as output components <NUM>, and individually as output component <NUM>), and a controller <NUM>.

Input component <NUM> may be points of attachment for physical links and may be points of entry for incoming traffic, such as packets. In some implementations, input component <NUM> may send and/or receive packets.

In some implementations, switching component <NUM> may enable input components <NUM>, output components <NUM>, and/or controller <NUM> to communicate.

In some implementations, output component <NUM> may send packets and/or receive packets.

Controller <NUM> is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Controller <NUM> includes a processor in the form of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or another type of processor that can interpret and/or execute instructions.

In some implementations, controller <NUM> may include a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, etc.) that stores information and/or instructions for use by controller <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> may create routing tables based on the network topology information, create forwarding tables based on the routing tables, and forward the forwarding tables to input components <NUM> and/or output components <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> may perform one or more processes described herein. Controller <NUM> may perform these processes in response to executing software instructions stored by a transitory or non-transitory computer-readable medium or received via transient means such as a signal. A computer-readable medium is defined herein as a transitory or non-transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space within a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices.

When executed, software instructions stored in a memory and/or storage component associated with controller <NUM> or received via transient means may cause controller <NUM> to perform one or more processes described herein.

<FIG> is a flow chart of an example process <NUM> for generating automatic bandwidth adjustment policies per label-switched path. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of <FIG> may be performed by traffic profiling device <NUM>. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of <FIG> may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including traffic profiling device <NUM>, such as ingress routing device <NUM>, routing device <NUM>, and/or egress routing device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include receiving information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with a label-switched path (block <NUM>). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may receive, from ingress routing device <NUM>, information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may receive the information that identifies the network traffic behavior from another device associated with LSP <NUM>, such as routing device <NUM> and/or egress routing device <NUM>.

In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may store (e.g., in a data structure, such as a routing table, a forwarding table, a label information database (LIB), or the like) information that identifies multiple LSPs <NUM> associated with network <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, ingress routing device <NUM> may receive network traffic from another device (e.g., a customer edge device, or the like), and may determine a characteristic associated with the network traffic. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may determine, for the network traffic, a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) value, a quality of service (QoS) value, a class of service (CoS) value, a differentiated services code point (DSCP) value, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, ingress routing device <NUM> may determine a type of the network traffic (e.g., streaming media traffic, VoIP traffic, internet protocol security (IPsec) traffic, virtual private network (VPN) traffic, teleconference traffic, or the like).

In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may determine a particular LSP <NUM> to transport the network traffic based on the characteristic and/or the type of network traffic. Ingress routing device <NUM> may attach a particular label, that corresponds to the particular LSP <NUM>, to the network traffic (e.g., may perform a push operation on a label stack). Ingress routing device <NUM> may provide the network traffic to a particular routing device <NUM> based on the label (e.g., may provide the network traffic to a next hop for a tunnel associated with LSP <NUM>). One or more routing devices <NUM> may forward the network traffic through network <NUM> based on labels attached to the network traffic. In this way, a particular LSP <NUM> may identify a specific path that includes a set of routing devices <NUM> in network <NUM>.

In some implementations, LSP <NUM> may be set up based on a signaling protocol, such as resource reservation protocol - traffic engineering (RSVP-TE), label distribution protocol (LDP), constraint-based routing label distribution protocol (CR-LDP), border gateway protocol (BGP), or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, LSP <NUM> may be configured (e.g., based on input provided by a network operator) with a bandwidth reservation (e.g., a reserved bandwidth allocation). Additionally, or alternatively, a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> may be adjusted based on a policy.

In some implementations, automatic bandwidth adjustment may be enabled in association with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, ingress routing device <NUM> and/or traffic profiling device <NUM> may implement a policy, and may adjust the bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> based on the policy. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> and/or traffic profiling device <NUM> may sample network traffic, and may determine bandwidth usage values associated with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, ingress routing device <NUM> and/or traffic profiling device <NUM> may adjust a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> based on the bandwidth usage values of LSP <NUM> in accordance with the policy.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with a particular LSP <NUM>. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may sample network traffic (e.g., based on a sampling interval, such as every <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes, etc.), and may determine a bandwidth usage value associated with a particular LSP <NUM> (e.g., a sampled bandwidth usage value). In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may provide, to traffic profiling device <NUM>, information that identifies the sampled bandwidth usage values. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may provide information associated with LSP <NUM> to traffic profiling device <NUM> using a transport protocol (e.g., path computation element communication protocol (PCEP), or the like).

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine network traffic behavior based on the received bandwidth usage values and/or one or more other network metrics (e.g., jitter, latency, packet loss, delay, etc.) associated with LSP <NUM>. For example, network traffic behavior may refer to bandwidth usage values of LSP <NUM> in relation to a particular time frame (e.g., a sample interval, a set of sample intervals, a time of day, a day, a week, a month, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, network traffic behavior may refer to a variation (e.g., a rate of change) of bandwidth usage values across time frames (e.g., across sample intervals, across sets of sample intervals, etc.). In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may store (e.g., in a data structure) information that identifies the network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may analyze the information that identifies the network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>, and may determine a policy, as described below.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include determining an automatic bandwidth adjustment policy based on the network traffic behavior associated with the label-switched path (block <NUM>). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy based on the information that identifies the network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may analyze the information, and may develop a model (e.g., a behavioral model) of the network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>.

In some implementations, the policy may include multiple factors (e.g., a sample interval value, an adjustment interval value, a threshold value, and/or another value) that may be used to adjust a bandwidth reservation associated with LSP <NUM>. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> and/or traffic profiling device <NUM> may implement the policy, and may adjust the bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> based on factors associated with the policy. Additionally, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine the multiple factors based on the model of the network traffic behavior of LSP <NUM>.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a value associated with a factor, as described below. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a value associated with a factor based on the network traffic behavior (e.g., values associated with the sampled network traffic). Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine that a sampled bandwidth usage value (or values) is within a particular range of values, satisfies a threshold value, etc., and may determine a value associated with a factor based on the sampled bandwidth usage value being within the particular range of values, satisfying the threshold value, etc. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may store template policies (e.g., values associated with factors), and may apply a template policy based on the sampled bandwidth usage values. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a value associated with a factor based on a characteristic and/or type of the network traffic.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a sample interval value. A sample interval may include a periodic time interval at which network traffic associated with LSP <NUM> is to be sampled for automatic bandwidth adjustment. For example, a sample interval may include a frequency at which bandwidth usage samples are collected (e.g., every thirty seconds, every five minutes, every ten minutes, etc.). In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a sample interval value based on a variation of the sampled bandwidth usage values (e.g., sampled by ingress routing device <NUM>) across a time frame. As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a larger sample interval value for a first LSP <NUM>, that exhibits less variation of bandwidth usage values across a time frame, as compared to a second LSP <NUM> that exhibits more variation of bandwidth usage values across a time frame (e.g., because the first LSP <NUM> exhibits more stable behavior).

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment interval value. An adjustment interval may include a time period at which a bandwidth reservation adjustment is to be performed. For example, upon the expiration of an adjustment interval, traffic profiling device <NUM> and/or ingress routing device <NUM> may adjust a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM>. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment interval value based on an amount of time that bandwidth usage values, associated with LSP <NUM>, are within a particular percentage (e.g., five percent, ten percent, fifteen percent, etc.) of a particular bandwidth usage value (e.g., a maximum average bandwidth value, or the like) and/or are within a particular range of values.

Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment interval value based on a variation of bandwidth usage values across a time frame. Additionally, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a time frame, where the variation in bandwidth usage values satisfies a particular threshold value (e.g., is less than a particular value), and may determine the adjustment interval value based on the time frame. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an amount of time where bandwidth usage values are within a threshold range.

As an example, if traffic profiling device <NUM> determines that bandwidth usage values are consistent across samples (e.g., are within a particular percentage of a particular value, or within a range of values) for a particular time frame, then traffic profiling device <NUM> may set the adjustment interval value to the time frame. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment interval value that reduces a quantity of signaling messages (e.g., associated with bandwidth reservation adjustment) based on identifying time frames for which the network traffic behavior is stable (e.g., is unlikely to be associated with a bandwidth usage value that may prematurely expire the adjustment interval).

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a maximum bandwidth value. A maximum bandwidth value may indicate the maximum bandwidth that may be reserved for LSP <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a minimum bandwidth value, which may indicate the minimum bandwidth that may be reserved for LSP <NUM>. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine the maximum bandwidth value and/or the minimum bandwidth value based on maximum bandwidth usage values (e.g., determined over a period of time), minimum bandwidth usage values (e.g., determined over a period of time), capacities associated with network links, or the like.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment threshold value. An adjustment threshold value may include a value that, if satisfied by a difference between a sampled bandwidth usage value and a reserved bandwidth value of LSP <NUM>, causes the reserved bandwidth value of LSP <NUM> to be adjusted at the expiration of an adjustment interval. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment threshold value based on an average variation of bandwidth usage values across time frames. As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an average variation of bandwidth usage values between samples, may determine a quantity of samples that include bandwidth usage values that satisfy the average variation, and may determine an adjustment threshold value based on the average variation and/or the quantity of samples. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an adjustment threshold value that may reduce a quantity of false positives (e.g., bandwidth reservation adjustments that are made based on an outlier sample).

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow threshold value. An overflow threshold value may include a value that, if satisfied by a difference between a sampled bandwidth value and a current bandwidth reservation value of LSP <NUM>, causes the adjustment interval to expire (e.g., prematurely) and a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> to be adjusted (e.g., increased). In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow threshold value based on variations of bandwidth usage values across time frames.

As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow threshold value based on an average variation between a minimum bandwidth usage value and a maximum bandwidth usage value for multiple sets of samples (e.g., growth periods). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an average increase in bandwidth usage values across a time frame, and may determine an overflow threshold value based on the average increase. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow threshold value that may reduce a quantity of false positives.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow count value. An overflow count value may represent a quantity of bandwidth usage samples, that include bandwidth usage values that satisfy the overflow threshold value, required to be collected in order to expire the adjustment interval (e.g., prematurely expire the adjustment interval). As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an average variation between bandwidth usage values across a time frame, and may determine a quantity of samples that include bandwidth usage values that satisfy the average variation. Additionally, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine the overflow count value based on the quantity of samples. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an overflow count value that may prevent an adjustment interval from being prematurely expired based on outlier samples (e.g., a particular quantity of samples that include bandwidth usage values that do not accurately reflect bandwidth demand of the LSP).

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow threshold value. An underflow threshold value may include a value that, if satisfied by a difference between a bandwidth usage value and a current bandwidth reservation value of LSP <NUM>, causes the adjustment interval to expire (e.g., prematurely) and a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> to be adjusted (e.g., decreased). In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow threshold value based on variations of bandwidth usage values across time frames.

As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow threshold value based on an average variation between a maximum bandwidth usage value and a minimum bandwidth usage value for multiple sets of samples. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an average decrease in bandwidth usage values across a time frame, and may determine an underflow threshold value based on the average decrease. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow threshold value that may reduce a quantity of false positives.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow count value. An underflow count value may represent a quantity of bandwidth usage samples, that include bandwidth values that satisfy the underflow threshold value, required to be collected in order to expire the adjustment interval (e.g., prematurely expire the adjustment interval). As an example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an average variation between bandwidth usage values across a time frame, and may determine a quantity of samples that include bandwidth usage values that satisfy the average variation. Additionally, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine the underflow count value based on the quantity of samples. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an underflow count value that may prevent an adjustment interval from being prematurely expired based on outlier samples.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy for LSP <NUM> based on determining values for one or more of the above factors. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine values for various factors (e.g., a sample interval value, an adjustment interval value, a maximum bandwidth value, a minimum bandwidth value, an adjustment threshold value, an overflow threshold value, an overflow count value, an underflow threshold value, an underflow count value, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may adjust a policy based on determining one or more of the above factors. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy based on analyzing network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>, and/or based on a model associated with LSP <NUM>. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy for LSP <NUM> that aligns with actual network traffic behavior of LSP <NUM>. Additionally, in this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> determines a policy that enables a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> to be more accurately adjusted (e.g., by reducing false positives, reducing unnecessary sampling, etc.), thereby conserving processor and/or memory resources of network devices and/or network resources.

Traffic profiling device <NUM> receives information that identifies network traffic behavior associated with multiple LSPs <NUM>, and determines corresponding policies for each LSP <NUM>. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a first policy for a first LSP <NUM> and may determine a second policy for a second LSP <NUM> (e.g., a different policy for the second LSP <NUM>). Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may implement a policy for one or more LSPs <NUM>. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may implement a policy for fewer than a total quantity of LSPs <NUM> associated with network <NUM>.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy based on one or more techniques (e.g., algorithms, machine learning, computational statistics, etc.). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may implement a technique that determines the policy (e.g., factors and corresponding values) based on the network traffic behavior (e.g., bandwidth usage values). In some implementations, the technique may receive, as input, information identifying known network traffic behavior and known policies, and may correlate the known network traffic behavior with the known policies (e.g., using machine learning, computational statistics, or the like).

Traffic profiling device <NUM> determines multiple policies for LSP <NUM>. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy based on a time frame (e.g., a time of day, a time of week, a time of month, etc.). LSP <NUM> includes network traffic behavior models that differ based on the time frame. As an example, a particular LSP <NUM> associated with VPN traffic may exhibit different network traffic behavior based on a day of the week. In this case, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine multiple policies for LSP <NUM>, and may implement a particular policy based on the time frame. As another example, assume that another LSP <NUM>, that carries streaming media traffic, exhibits different network traffic behavior based on the time of day. Traffic profiling device <NUM> determines multiple policies for LSP <NUM>, and implements a particular policy based on the time of day.

In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an updated policy based on implementing a policy. For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy, may implement the policy (as described elsewhere herein), and may determine an updated policy based on receiving additional information that identifies network traffic behavior. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an updated policy based on statistics associated with the policy (e.g., the implemented policy). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a quantity of bandwidth reservation adjustments that were made in accordance with the policy, a quantity of premature expirations of the adjustment interval (e.g., based on an overflow threshold value or an underflow threshold value being satisfied), or the like. In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine an updated policy that reduces a quantity of bandwidth adjustments, reduces a quantity of premature expirations of the adjustment interval, or the like, thereby conserving processor and/or memory resources of network devices, and/or network resources.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> may include implementing the automatic bandwidth adjustment policy in association with the label-switched path (block <NUM>). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may provide, to ingress routing device <NUM>, information that identifies the policy, and ingress routing device <NUM> may implement the policy. In some implementations, traffic profiling device <NUM> may provide, using a transport protocol, information that identifies one or more values associated with corresponding factors. Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may provide one or more instructions, regarding the policy, to ingress routing device <NUM>, thereby causing ingress routing device <NUM> to implement the policy.

In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may store information associated with the policy (e.g., based on information received from traffic profiling device <NUM>), and may implement the policy. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may monitor network traffic, and may cause a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM> to be adjusted in accordance with the policy. In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may monitor network traffic, and may adjust an attribute of LSP <NUM> based on the policy. For example, ingress routing device <NUM> may adjust a bandwidth reservation of LSP <NUM>, a path associated with LSP <NUM> (e.g., using RSVP-TE signaling), a quantity of associated LSPs <NUM> (e.g., sub-LSPs <NUM> included in an LSP grouping), or the like, based on the policy.

In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may sample network traffic, and may provide information associated with the sampled network traffic to traffic profiling device <NUM> (e.g., may delegate implementation of the policy to traffic profiling device <NUM>). Additionally, or alternatively, traffic profiling device <NUM> may monitor network traffic associated with LSP <NUM> and may implement the policy (e.g., may adjust attributes of LSP <NUM> based on the policy). For example, traffic profiling device <NUM> may store information that identifies the policy, and may cause bandwidth reservation adjustments to be made in accordance with the policy.

In some implementations, ingress routing device <NUM> may receive information that identifies the network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>, may determine a policy based on the network traffic behavior, and may implement the policy (e.g., may perform operations associated with blocks <NUM>-<NUM>). In this way, ingress routing device <NUM> may alleviate the need to communicate with traffic profiling device <NUM>, thereby conserving network resources.

Implementations described herein enable traffic profiling device <NUM> to determine a policy for LSP <NUM> based on determining network traffic behavior associated with LSP <NUM>. Thus, implementations described herein enable traffic profiling device <NUM> to determine a more accurate policy for LSP <NUM> than as compared to a universal policy (e.g., applied to multiple LSPs <NUM> irrespective of a characteristic and/or type of network traffic carried by LSPs <NUM>). In this way, traffic profiling device <NUM> may determine a policy for LSP <NUM> that reduces a sampling frequency, reduces a quantity of unnecessary bandwidth reservation adjustments, or the like. Implementations described herein may conserve processor and/or memory resources of network devices associated with LSP <NUM>, may conserve network resources, and/or may enable network resources to be allocated to other LSPs <NUM> and/or traffic.

Implementations described herein enable a policy to be determined on a per-LSP basis. In this way, implementations described herein enable particular policies to be applied to particular LSPs based on network traffic behavior of the respective LSPs, rather than a universal policy being applied to each LSP. In this way, implementations described herein reduce a quantity of situations where too much or too little bandwidth is reserved for an LSP, thereby conserving network resources by preventing network traffic loss and/or enabling bandwidth to be reserved for other applications.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds. As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, etc. As used herein, a threshold value may refer to an absolute value, a percentage value, or the like.

Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference to specific software code-it being understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with "one or more. " Furthermore, as used herein, the term "set" is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with "one or more. " Where only one item is intended, the term "one" or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms "has," "have," "having," or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claim 1:
A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more devices, information that identifies a label-switched path (<NUM>);
determining, by the one or more devices, multiple policies for the label-switched path;
identifying, by the one or more devices, time information;
determining a plurality of network traffic behavior models for the label-switched path that differ based on the time information; and
implementing, by the one or more devices and based on the time information and the plurality of network traffic behavior models, a particular policy, of the multiple policies, in association with the label-switched path,
the particular policy enabling adjustment of a bandwidth reservation of the label-switched path.