Packet mapper for dynamic data packet prioritization

A method of prioritizing streams of data packets in a computer network to provide quality of service (QoS) routing, each data packet having a packet header containing data port numbers descriptive of the data packet, the method comprising;

• monitoring the port number negotiation and selection for applications and protocols within end-point devices that dynamically select data exchange port numbers;
• associating dynamically assigned data port numbers with network-reserved data port numbers from a range of data port numbers reserved for use by selected priority data streams;
• and
• performing at least one of:
• (i) in each packet header having a dynamically assigned data port number associated with a network-reserved data port number, substituting the associated network-reserved data port number for the dynamically assigned data port number;
• and
• (ii) in each packet header having a network-reserved data port number associated with a dynamically assigned data port number, substituting the associated dynamically assigned data port number for the network-reserved data port number.

A router for prioritizing streams of data packets in a computer network to provide quality of service (QoS) routing, each data packet having a packet header containing data port numbers descriptive of the data packet, the router comprising.

• a plurality of data interfaces for streams of data packets to enter and exit the router;
• circuitry for monitoring the streams of data packets that enter and exit the router;
• and
• a packet mapper that maps the streams of data packets, wherein the packet mapper includes:
• a mapping table that associates dynamically assigned data port numbers with network-reserved data port numbers from a range of data port numbers reserved for use by selected network data packet streams;
• and
• a data port number mapper that performs at least one of:
• (i) in each packet header having a dynamically assigned data port number associated with a network-reserved data port number, substituting the associated network-reserved data port number for the dynamically assigned data port number, and
• (ii) in each packet header having a network-reserved data port number associated with a dynamically assigned data port number, substituting the associated dynamically assigned data port number for the network-reserved data port number.

A computer network having a plurality of prioritized streams of data packets providing quality of service (QoS) routing, each data packet having a packet header containing data port numbers descriptive of the data packet, the computer network comprising:

• a plurality of subnetworks, each subnetwork having at least one application that generates a stream of data packets for transmission over the computer network;
• a plurality of routers that prioritize streams of data packets, at least one router having a plurality of data interfaces for streams of data packets to enter and exit the router, and a packet mapper that maps the streams of data packets, wherein the packet mapper includes:
• a mapping table that associates dynamically assigned data port numbers with network-reserved data port numbers from a range of data port numbers reserved for use by selected network data packet streams;
• and
• a data port number mapper that performs at least one of:
• (i) in each packet header having a dynamically assigned data port number associated with a network-reserved data port number, substituting the associated network-reserved data port number for the dynamically assigned data port number, and
• (ii) in each packet header having a network-reserved data port number associated with a dynamically assigned data port number, substituting the associated dynamically assigned data port number for the network-reserved data port number.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for monitoring and prioritizing streams of data packets in a computer network between end-point devices to provide quality of service (QoS) routing, each data packet having a packet header containing data port numbers descriptive of the data packet, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

• program code for associating dynamically assigned data port numbers with network-reserved data port numbers from a range of data port numbers reserved for use by selected network data streams;
• and
• program code for performing at least one of:
• (i) in each packet header having a dynamically assigned data port number associated with a network-reserved data port number, substituting the associated network-reserved data port number for the dynamically assigned data port number;
• and
• (ii) in each packet header having a network-reserved data port number associated with a dynamically assigned data port number, substituting the associated dynamically assigned data port number for the network-reserved data port number.