US 2005/0088973 A1 · Congestion control in an IP network

Abstract

Upon detection of an overload condition at a network element, the network element sends two messages to those other network elements which may potentially send request messages to the overloaded network element. If the network utilizes the SIP signaling protocol, then the messages sent by an overloaded network element are SIP INVITE and SIP CANCEL. The CANCEL message comprises an indication that the sending network element is unavailable and an amount of time which the recipient network elements are to wait before sending any requests to the overloaded network node. Upon receipt of these messages, the receiving network elements wait for a delay time period before sending any additional request messages to the overloaded network element. During the waiting period, the waiting network elements may send request messages to network elements other than the overloaded network element which provide functionality similar to that of the overloaded network element.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for congestion control in an IP network comprising the steps of:

in response to determining an overload condition at a first network element:
sending a first message from said first network element to at least one other network element at a first time;
and
sending a second message from said first network element to said at least one other network element at a second time, said second message comprising an indication that said first network element is unavailable.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Congestion control in an IP network

Life of this patent

Congestion control in an IP network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18