Multi-timescale packet marker

A network node configured to manage resources using per-packet marking, the node comprising:

• communications circuitry configured to send data packets to, and receive data packets from, one or more other nodes via a communications network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively connected to the communications circuitry and configured to:
• assign a plurality of throughput-value function (TVFs) to a plurality of timescales (TSs), with each TVF being assigned to a respective TS, and wherein each TS is associated with one or more valid bitrate regions;
• determine a plurality of measured bitrates based on the plurality of TSs;
• determine a random bitrate;
• determine one or more distances between the plurality of TVFs, wherein each distance defines an invalid bitrate region between two TVFs;
• select a TVF based on the random bitrate and the one or more distances between the plurality of TVFs;
• determine a packet value with which to mark a received data packet as a function of the selected TVF;
• mark the received data packet with the packet value;
• and
• output the data packet marked with the packet value via the communications circuitry.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a control application thereon, the control application comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a network node configured to manage resources using per-packet marking, causes the network node to:

• assign a plurality of throughput-value function (TVFs) to a plurality of timescales (TSs), with each TVF being assigned to a respective TS, and wherein each TS is associated with one or more valid bitrate regions;
• determine a plurality of measured bitrates based on the plurality of TSs;
• determine a random bitrate;
• determine one or more distances between the plurality of TVFs, wherein each distance defines an invalid bitrate region between two TVFs;
• select a TVF based on the random bitrate and the one or more distances between the plurality of TVFs;
• determine a packet value with which to mark a received data packet as a function of the selected TVF;
• mark the received data packet with the packet value;
• and
• output the data packet marked with the packet value via the communications circuitry.