Method and apparatus for generating an RSVP message for a non-RSVP-enabled network device

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for initiating a reservation process using Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), the program instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

• detecting a traffic flow in a communication network, originating from a source directed to a receiver of the traffic flow;
• and
• in response to detecting the traffic flow, performing the steps of:
• determining whether to initiate an RSVP reservation process for the traffic flow based upon characteristics of the traffic flow,
• generating an RSVP PATH message that requests reservation of resource for processing the traffic flow,
• communicating the RSVP PATH message to the receiver of the traffic flow, and
• wherein determining whether to initiate an RSVP reservation process includes:
• determining whether an RSVP PATH message is already associated with the traffic flow.

A system for initiating an RSVP reservation process, for a traffic flow originating from a source, comprising:

• an RSVP proxy configured to be networked with a sender device and with a receiver device, wherein the sender device is configured to originate a traffic flow and send the traffic flow to a receiver device, and including:
• a detector configured to detect the traffic flow when networked with the sender and receiver devices;
• an analyzer configured to determine attributes of the traffic flow when networked with the sender and receiver devices;
• an RSVP PATH message generator configured to, in response to the detector detecting the traffic flow and based upon the determined attributes of the traffic flow, generate one or more RSVP PATH messages that request reservation of resource for processing the traffic flow;
• wherein the RSVP proxy is further configured to be networked to a policy server;
• and
• wherein the RSVP PATH message generator is configured to determine whether to send an RSVP PATH message based on a policy from the policy server.

A system for initiating an RSVP reservation process, for a traffic flow originating from a source, comprising:

• an RSVP proxy configured to be networked with a sender device and with a receiver device;
• wherein the sender device is configured to originate a traffic flow and send the traffic flow to a receiver device;
• and
• wherein the RSVP proxy is further configured to:
• detect and interpret the traffic flow, and
• in response to detecting and interpreting the traffic flow:
• generate, based upon characteristics of the traffic flow, an RSVP PATH message that requests reservation of resource for processing the traffic flow,
• determine whether an RSVP PATH message is already associated with the traffic flow, and
• send an RSVP PATH message based upon characteristics of the traffic flow.

A system for initiating a reservation process using Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), comprising:

• means for detecting a traffic flow in a commumication network, originating from a source and directed to a receiver of the traffic flow;
• and means for, in response to detecting the traffic flow:
• determining whether to initiate an RSVP reservation process for the traffic flow based upon characteristics of the traffic flow,
• generating an RSVP PATH message that requests reservation of resource for processing the traffic flow,
• communicating the RSVP PATH message to the receiver of the traffic flow, and
• wherein the means for determining whether to initiate an RSVP reservation process includes:
• means for determining whether an RSVP PATH message is already associated with the traffic flow.