Method of data rate exchange for transmissions across a packet-based network

An apparatus for exchanging source-to-sink data rate information in a packet-based network, comprising:

• a first communication device configured to communicate data across said network and to operate as at least one of a source and sink of data;
• a first gateway mechanism coupled to said network, said first gateway mechanism configured to receive data rate information from said first communication device to determine a first data signaling rate between said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism;
• a second communication device configured to communicate data across said network and to operate as at least one of a source and sink of data;
• a second gateway mechanism coupled to said network, said second gateway mechanism configured to receive data rate information from said second communication device to determine a second data signaling rate between said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism;
• wherein said first gateway forwards data rate information containing said first data signaling rate to said second gateway mechanism and said second gateway mechanism forwards data rate information containing said second data signaling rate to said first gateway mechanism, and
• wherein said first communication device and said fist gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said first data signaling rate and said second data signaling rate received from said second gateway mechanism and said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine a second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said second data signaling rate and said first data signaling rate received from said first gateway mechanism, and wherein the first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate differ.

A machine-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instruction sequences for exchanging data rate information in a packet-based network, said instruction sequences comprising:

• receiving, by a first gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a first communication device, said first communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;
• determining a first data signaling rate between said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism;
• receiving, by a second gateway mechanism coupled to said network, data rate information from a second communication device, said second communication device configured to operate as at least one of a source and sink;
• determining a second data signaling rate between said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism;
• forwarding data rate information containing said first data signaling rate to said second, gateway mechanism;
• and
• forwarding data rate information containing said second data signaling rate to said first gateway mechanism, wherein said first communication device and said first gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said first data signaling rate and said second data signaling rate received from said second gateway mechanism, and
• wherein said second communication device and said second gateway mechanism determine a first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate based on said second data signaling rate and said first data signaling rate received from said first gateway mechanism;
• arm
• wherein the first maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate and said second maximum compatible source-to-sink data rate differ.