Patent ID: 7428216

Claim:
In a communication system, a method for establishing packet-based communication between first and second endpoints over a network, the method comprising the steps of: requesting a resource from the network utilizing a first protocol; while the request is pending, commencing transmission of packets at a first priority level higher than a priority level of Best Effort (BE) traffic in the network; and after a response is received from the network granting access to the requested resource, utilizing a tagging mechanism to identify particular packets for transmission at a second priority level higher than the first priority level; wherein the first priority level is implemented for a first one of the packets by setting a designated portion of a header of the first packet to a value specifying a Better than Best Effort (BBE) policy; and wherein the second priority level is implemented for a second one of the packets by setting the designated portion of a header of the second packet to a value specifying an Expedited Forwarding (EF) policy; transition between use of the BBE policy and use of the EF policy thereby being conditioned on success or failure of the request for the resource, with a transition from use of the BBE policy to use of the EF policy occurring if the request is granted, and the policy in use otherwise remaining the BBE policy.