Method and apparatus for providing guaranteed quality/class of service within and across networks using existing reservation protocols and frame formats

A method for providing reserved connections between endstations in a single network capable of providing best-effort and prioritized communications, the method comprising:

• detecting best-effort packets and packets that include requests for reserved connections according to a predetermined reservation protocol;
• forwarding best-effort packets;
• forwarding detected request information to an enterprise control point;
• identifying a path within at least a portion of the network between the endstations that can establish the requested reserved connections;
• and reserving resources along the path so as to establish the requested reserved connections.

An apparatus for reserving connections between endstations in a single network, capable of providing best-effort and prioritized communications comprising:

• means for detecting best-effort packets and packets that include requests for reserved connections according to a predetermined reservation protocol;
• means for forwarding best-effort packets;
• means for forwarding detected request information to an enterprise control point;
• means for identifying a path within at least a portion of the network between the endstations that can establish the requested reserved connections;
• and means for reserving resources along the path so as to establish the requested reserved connections.

An enterprise control point adapted to reserve connections between endstations in a network, wherein the enterprise control point is adapted to communicate with a switch via a first signaling channel, to receive request information concerning reserved connections from the switch, and to identify at least one path in the network and to reserve resources along the path that can establish the reserved connections between the endstations in response to the received request information, the enterprise control point comprising:

• a signaling interface adapted to communicate with the switch via the first signaling channel;
• a path/device discovery unit adapted to build and update a list of network elements and paths between the endstations;
• and
• a connection controller coupled to the signaling interface and the path/device discovery unit, wherein the connection controller is adapted to initiate and terminate reserved connections between the endstations in response to the received request information based on the list of network elements and paths between the endstations.

An apparatus for providing reserved connections between endstations in a broadband network, comprising:

• a switch in packet communication with a requesting one of the endstations that is adapted to detect packets that include requests for reserved connections according to a predetermined reservation protocol;
• and
• an enterprise control point adapted to communicate with the switch via a signaling channel and to communicate with a broadband network control system server via a signaling network, wherein the enterprise control point receives request information concerning reserved connections from the switch and to forward the request information to the broadband network control system server;
• and
• a premises switch in packet communication with the requesting endstation and the broadband network, the premises switch being adapted to communicate with the broadband network control system server via the signaling network and to forward packets belonging to reserved connections to a broadband network in response to reserved connection commands from the broadband network control system server.