Rate-based congestion control in packet communications networks

A packet communication network including a system for controlling the access to said network at each access point to said network, said access controlling system comprising

• means for marking each packet launched on said network at each of said access point to said network with a high priority marking when the data packets at said each access point stay within a predefined range of statistical parameters,
• means for marking each packet launched on said network with a lower priority marking when the data packets at said corresponding each access point fall outside of said predefined range of statistical parameters, and
• means for prolonging, once started, the marking of packets launched on said network with said lower priority to produce a serial train of packets with said lower priority marking.

A method controlling the access to a packet communications network at each access point to said network, said method comprising the steps of

• marking each packet launched on said network at each of said access points to said network with a high priority marking when the data packets at said each access point stay within a predefined range of statistical parameters,
• marking each packet launched on said network with a lower priority marking when the data packets at said each access point fall outside of said predefined range of statistical parameters, and
• prolonging, once started, the marking of packets launched on said network with said lower priority to produce a serial train of packets with said lower priority marking.