Method and apparatus for implementing a quality of service policy in a data communications network
US6868065B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/50
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for implementing Quality of Service (QoS) policy in a data communications network. An active flow content addressable memory (CAM) contains entries of flow information for each active flow of packets passing through a given node of the data communications network. The CAM has associated with each entry a packet counter, a byte counter, a token bucket, and a contract value. Each flow is assigned one of a plurality of output queues and optionally at least one output threshold value. A token bucket algorithm is employed on each flow to determine whether packets from that flow exceed the contract value. Such packets may be dropped or optimally modified to reflect an alternate output queue and/or alternate threshold before being sent to the selected output queue for transmission from the node.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.