Patent ID: 7756137

Claim:
A QoS controller, in an IP network having one or more routers, the QoS controller being different from the one or more routers of the IP network and comprising: a storing unit configured to assign a first bit area and a second bit area within a field in an IP header of an IP packet, and store first bits for implementing bandwidth control at said routers into said first bit area and second bits that indicate a path for routing the IP packet to a destination router into said second bit area, wherein said first bits and said second bits do not interfere with each other within the field in the IP header; a reporting unit configured to report to said routers said first bits and said second bits stored by said storing unit; a database unit, said database unit representing a first bit sequence as a router-control class for controlling said routers, and a second bit sequence as a routing class for routing at said routers, and said database unit storing, in accordance with a type of the IP packet, a relationship between said router-control class and said routing class; a traffic-monitoring unit configured to monitor traffic conditions at said routers; a corresponding-relationship updating unit configured to change the relationship, stored at said database unit, between said router-control class and said routing class, based on said monitored traffic conditions, wherein said reporting unit reports to said routers the relationship, stored at said database unit, between said router-control class and said routing class, and said reporting unit reports to said routers the relationship changed by said corresponding-relationship updating unit.