System and method for hierarchical policing of flows and subflows of a data stream
AssigneeSLT Logic LLC
InventorsRodolfo A. Santiago, Scott A. Sarkinen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for policing individual flows and subflows of a data stream. Data traffic streams are classified into separate traffic flows, which in turn can be further classified into subflows, thereby providing for different priority levels of subsets of the flow. The subflows may be still further classified into additional subflows, creating a hierarchical, layered prioritization that can be metered at each vertical and horizontal level of the hierarchy. A packet flow rate of each of the subflows is compared to a predefined rate limit to allow subflows of a flow to have different priorities therebetween.
Claims9
A packet policing system for providing layered policing of packets of a data stream, comprising:
- A) a classifier to receive and parse the data stream into a plurality of traffic flows, and to parse at least one of the traffic flows into a plurality of subflows;
- and B) a policing engine coupled to the classifier to receive each of the subflows, and to individually meter each of the subflows associated with the at least traffic flow in accordance with predefined subflow priorities assigned to each of the subflows.
A method for providing layered policing of packets of a data stream, comprising:
- parsing the data stream into one or more flows;
- parsing at least one of the flows into a high-priority subflow and at least one standard subflow;
- enabling the high-priority and standard subflows to be monitored for bandwidth conformance when the at least flow reaches a predetermined bandwidth threshold;
- marking the high-priority subflow as conforming while allowing the standard subflows to be marked as non-conforming if the at least flow becomes non-conforming;
- where the at least flow has become non-conforming, adjusting the bandwidth of the standard subflows to bring the at least flow into conformance.
A method for maximizing exploitation of a contracted bandwidth for a flow, comprising:
- parsing the flow into a high-priority subflow and at least one standard subflow;
- assigning rate limits to the high-priority subflow and the at least one standard subflow;
- monitoring packet conformance on a subflow level when the flow decreases to a predetermined bandwidth capacity;
- providing guaranteed bandwidth to the high-priority subflow while providing best effort bandwidth to the at least one standard subflow, regardless of whether the flow has exceeded its contracted bandwidth;
- if the flow has exceeded its contracted bandwidth, adjusting the bandwidth of the at least one standard subflow to bring the flow into conformance, while maintaining the guaranteed bandwidth to the high-priority subflow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.