Hierarchical multi-rate multi-precedence policer
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsFrancois Le Faucheur, Anna Charny, Sandeep Bajaj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hierarchical multi-rate multi-precedence policer is disclosed. The policer discards packets based on assigned precedence levels. When traffic exceeds an available service rate, the policer drops packets of lower precedence levels to make room for packets of higher precedence levels. In certain implementations, the policer also guarantees bandwidth to each level, thus preventing complete loss of lower precedence traffic when there is a large amount of higher precedence traffic.
Claims34
A method for operating a multi-rate multi-precedence policer, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of packet precedence levels;
- providing a traffic meter for each of said packet precedence levels;
- determining a policer operation for a received packet based on the traffic meter associated with said received packet's precedence level;
- and
- wherein said received packet affects traffic measured by said traffic meter associated with said received packet's precedence level and all traffic meters associated with precedence levels below said received packet's precedence level.
A computer program product for operating a packet policer, said computer program product comprising:
- code that causes received traffic to be limited in accordance with rates corresponding to precedence levels to which packets of said received traffic are assigned;
- code that causes packets of the lowest possible precedence levels to be dropped or remarked to assure conformance to said rates;
- and
- a computer-readable medium that stores the codes.
A method of operating a network, said method comprising:
- assigning a plurality of calls to a plurality of precedence levels such that packets belong to a call are assigned a corresponding precedence levels;
- operating a policer to police traffic generated by said calls by:
- limiting said received traffic in accordance with rates corresponding to said precedence levels;
- and
- dropping or remarking packets of the lowest possible precedence levels to assure conformance to said rates.
Apparatus for operating a packet policer, said apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory device that stores:
- code that causes received traffic to be limited in accordance with rates corresponding to precedence levels to which packets of said received traffic have been assigned;
- and
- code that causes packets of the lowest possible precedence levels to be dropped or remarked to assure conformance to said rates.
Apparatus for operating a packet policer, said apparatus comprising:
- means for causing received traffic to be limited in accordance with rates corresponding to precedence levels to which packets of said received traffic have been assigned;
- and
- means for causing packets of the lowest possible precedence levels to be dropped or remarked to assure conformance to said rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.