Patent ID: 7782774

Claim:
A method comprising: selecting an amount based on at least one of system capacity, loading, desired flow rate, and guaranteed flow rate; and for each packet flow of a plurality of packet flows, comparing a flow rate of said each packet flow and a first threshold, wherein said each packet flow comprises a packet, and said comparing said each packet flow and said first threshold comprises determining if said flow rate of said each packet flow exceeds said first threshold, comparing said flow rate of said each packet flow and a second threshold, wherein said second threshold exceeds said first threshold by said amount, comparing said flow rate of said each packet flow and a third threshold, and managing said each packet flow, wherein said managing comprises sending a congestion message downstream with respect to said each packet flow, said managing said each packet flow is based on said comparing said flow rate of said each packet flow and said first threshold, said comparing said flow rate of said each packet flow and said second threshold, and said comparing said flow rate of said each packet flow and said third threshold, and said managing said each packet flow comprises performing one of policing said each packet flow by attempting to reduce said flow rate of said each packet flow, if said flow rate of said each packet flow is between said first threshold and said second threshold, and dropping said packet, if said flow rate of said each packet flow exceeds said second threshold, and policing said each packet flow by dropping said packet, if said flow rate of said each packet flow exceeds said third threshold.