US 7,142,536 B1 · Communications network quality of service system and method for real time information

Abstract

The present invention provides efficient and effective quality of service for information that is time sensitive (e.g., real time data). An intermediate network communication system and method (e.g., a router) of the present invention performs cut through switching to reduce latency problems for time sensitive information. In one embodiment of the present invention, communication packet header information is encoded with a time sensitive identifier that identifies the information as time sensitive. In one exemplary transfer control protocol/internet protocol TCP/IP implementation of the present invention, time sensitive indication is provided in the link layer information. In one embodiment of the present invention, time sensitive information is dropped if the intermediate network device can not communicate the information within specified timing constraints. In one embodiment of the present invention time sensitive information is cut through routed on a virtual channel and pre-empts non time sensitive information. In one embodiment a communication path probe is cut through routed via intermediate network devices to establish a communication path before other information is communicated from a originating source to a final destination. In one embodiment the present invention leverages previously collected information to establish a communication path. In one embodiment the present invention, an intermediate network device establishes a second communication link if a first communication link is unavailable.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A time sensitive quality of service management system comprising:

a communication port for communicating information;
a switching circuit for providing an output communication path to said communication port and performing unscheduled cut through routing of a communication path probe, wherein said probe is discarded if said unscheduled cut through routing cannot be performed within a time constraint associated with said probe, said switching circuit coupled to said communication port;
a processor for directing said switching circuit to perform unscheduled cut through routing of said communication path probe and a communication path probe update, including discarding said communication path probe and associated information if said unscheduled cut through routing of said probe cannot be performed within said time constraint, said processor coupled to said switching circuit;
and
a memory for storing information associated with the control of said switching circuit by said processor, said memory coupled to said processor.

2 more elements

A network management system comprising:

a communication port for communicating information;
a switching circuit for providing an output communication path to said communication port and performing unscheduled pre-emptive cut through routing of information, wherein said information is discarded if said unscheduled pre-emptive cut through routing cannot be performed within a timing constraint associated with said information, said switching circuit coupled to said communication port;
a processor for directing said switching circuit to perform unscheduled pre-emptive cut through routing of a communication path probe utilized to establish a communication path for communicating non-time sensitive information, wherein said non-time sensitive information is dropped if said unscheduled pre-emptive cut through routing cannot be performed within a timing constraint associated with said non-time sensitive information, said processor coupled to said switching circuit;
and
a memory for storing information associated with the control of said switching circuit by said processor, said memory coupled to said processor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Communications network quality of service system and method for real time information

Life of this patent

Communications network quality of service system and method for real time information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14