Patent ID: 7061864

Claim:
A method for controlling data flow in a data network including: measuring a source specific incoming data rate of incoming data from a specific source; comparing the source specific incoming data rate with at least one corresponding predetermined data rate; if the source specific incoming data rate does not exceed the predetermined data rate, transmitting the incoming data further, wherein a backpressure warning signal (bpws) is generated if the source specific incoming data rate exceeds at least one of the predetermined source specific data rates and said generated backpressure warning signal (bpws) is sent to said source of the incoming data, wherein the source specific incoming data rate is compared with a predetermined Peak Information Rate and a predetermined Committed Information Rate, which Committed Information Rate is lower than said Peak Information Rate, wherein incoming data packets are marked depending on the result of the comparison of the source specific incoming data rate with said Committed Information Rate and said Peak Information Rate, wherein, if the source specific incoming data rate exceeds said Peak Information Rate the incoming data packets are marked ‘no priority’; if the source specific incoming data rate exceeds said Committed Information Rate and does not exceed said Peak Information Rate said incoming data packets are marked ‘low priority’; if the source specific incoming data rate does not exceed said predetermined Committed Information Rate said incoming data packets are marked ‘high priority’.