Providing different QOS to layer-3 datagrams when transported on tunnels

A first network device providing different quality of services (QOS) to different layer-3 datagrams to be transported to a second network device connected by a backbone, each of said first network device and said second network device operating as a layer-3 device, said first network device comprising:

• means for provisioning a tunnel terminating at said second network device via said backbone, said tunnel being implemented to provide different QOS to different packets depending on a packet header for the corresponding packet;
• means for indicating in said first network device whether to provide different QOS to different datagrams received on a point-to-point session;
• means for receiving a layer-3 datagram on said point-to-point session, said layer-3 datagram containing a datagram header and a datagram data;
• means for examining said datagram header to determine a QOS to be provided to said layer-3 datagram, wherein said means for examining determines to provide different QOS to datagrams received on said point-to-point session based on said indicating;
• means for forming at least one packet by encapsulating at least said datagram data with a layer-3 header, wherein said layer-3 header identifies said tunnel to said second network device, said at least one packet containing a packet header to provide said QOS determined by said examining;
• and
• means for sending said at least one packet to said second network device on said tunnel,
• whereby layer-3 datagrams received on said point-to-point session receive different QOS based on the corresponding datagram headers if said means for indicating indicates that different QOS are to be provided to different datagrams received on said point-to-point session.

A first network device providing different quality of services (QOS) to different layer-3 datagrams to be transported to a second network device connected by a backbone, each of said first network device and said second network device operating as a layer-3 device, said first network device comprising:

• a memory indicating whether to provide different QOS to different layer-3 datagrams related to a point-to-point session;
• an input interface receiving a layer-3 datagram, said layer-3 datagram containing a datagram header and a datagram data;
• a classifier determining whether said layer-3 datagram relates to said point-to-point session;
• a marker determining a QOS to be provided to said layer-3 datagram, wherein said marker provides different QOS to different layer-3 datagrams only if said memory indicates that different QOS is to be provided to different layer-3 datagrams related to said point-to-point session;
• a tunnel encapsulator encapsulating at least said datagram data with a layer-3 header to generate an encapsulated data, said layer-3 header identifies a tunnel set up via a backbone to said second network device, said tunnel providing different QOS to packets having different packet headers;
• a forwarding block forming at least one packet to transport said encapsulated data, wherein said encapsulated data is encapsulated for transporting on said tunnel, said at least one packet containing a packet header to provide said QOS determined by said examining;
• and
• an output interface sending said at least one packet to said second network device on said tunnel,
• whereby said first network device provides different QOS to different layer-3 datagrams received only on some point-to-point sessions.

A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a first network device to provide different quality of services (QOS) to different layer-3 datagrams when sending to a second network device on a backbone, said first network device, each of said first network device and said second network device operating as a layer-3 device, said backbone being contained in a communication network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said network device causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

• provisioning a tunnel in said first network device, said tunnel terminating at said second network device via said backbone, said tunnel being implemented to provide different QOS to different packets depending on a packet header for the corresponding packet;
• indicating in said first network device whether to provide different QOS to different datagrams received on a point-to-point session;
• receiving a layer-3 datagram in said first network device, said layer-3 datagram containing a datagram header and a datagram data;
• examining said datagram header in said first network device to determine a QOS to be provided to said layer-3 datagram, wherein said examining determines to provide different QOS to datagrams received on said point-to-point session based on said indicating;
• forming at least one packet in said first network device by encapsulating at least said datagram data with a layer-3 header, wherein said layer-3 header identifies said tunnel to said second network device, said at least one packet containing a packet header to provide said QOS determined by said examining;
• and
• sending said at least one packet to said second network device on said tunnel,
• whereby layer-3 datagrams received on said point-to-point session receive different QOS based on the corresponding datagram headers if said indicating indicates that different QOS are to be provided to different datagrams received on said point-to-point session.

A communication system comprising:

• an access network coupled to a plurality of remote systems, said access network forwarding a layer-3 datagram based on data received from one of said plurality of remote systems, wherein said layer-3 datagram contains a datagram header and a datagram data;
• and
• a communication network containing a backbone connecting a first network device and a second network device, each of said first network device and said second network device operating as a layer-3 device, said first network device being operable to:
• provision a tunnel terminating at said second network device via said backbone, said tunnel being implemented to provide different QOS to different packets depending on a packet header for the corresponding packet;
• indicate in said first network device whether to provide different QOS to different datagrams received on a point-to-point session;
• receive said layer-3 datagram, said data header indicating that said layer-3 datagram is to be sent to said second network device;
• examine said datagram header in said first network device to determine a QOS to be provided to said layer-3 datagram, wherein said examine determines to provide different QOS to datagrams received on said point-to-point session based on said indicate;
• form at least one packet in said first network device by encapsulating at least said datagram data with a layer-3 header, wherein said layer-3 header identifies said tunnel to said second network device, said at least one packet containing a packet header to provide said QOS determined by said examine;
• and
• send said at least one packet to said second network device on said tunnel,
• whereby layer-3 datagrams received on said point-to-point session receive different QOS based on the corresponding datagram headers if said indicating indicates that different QOS are to be provided to different datagrams received on said point-to-point session.