Patent ID: 6973034

Claim:
A method for providing dynamic feedback control of network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of network elements, each of said network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said method comprising: receiving a first portion of information relating to a first communication flow between a first network node and a second network node, the first portion of information including quality control information relating to the fist communication flow, the quality control information including at least one quality control parameter; analyzing, using an analysis entity, at least a portion of the quality control information to determine whether the quality control information conforms with predetermined criteria; detecting a problem relating to the first communication flow based on the analysis of the quality control information; automatically taking action, in response to detecting the problem, to resolve the problem by generating updated operating parameter information relating to a selected portion of network elements; wherein the updated operating parameter information includes information relating to at least one of: (a) updated committed information rate information for adjusting at least one committed information rate value associated with at least one network element of the selected portion of network elements, (b) updated excess information rate information for adjusting at least one excess information rate value associated with at least one network element of the selected portion of network elements, (c) updated committed burst size parameter information for adjusting at least one committed burst size parameter value associated with at least one network element of the selected portion of network elements, and (d) undated excess burst size parameter information for adjusting at least one excess burst size parameter value associated with at least one network element of the selected portion of network elements; and providing the updated operating parameter information to the selected portion of network elements to thereby cause the selected portion of network elements to modify their respective operating parameters in a manner which results in a correction of the problem relating to the first communication flow.