Selecting a differential treatment field value

A method of optimizing data communication, comprising:

• iteratively sending a first plurality of blocks of packets through a network, wherein the first plurality of blocks of packets have a differential treatment field set to a first value, and wherein the first plurality of blocks of packets are sent through the network at different throughput rates;
• receiving a first plurality of reports corresponding to the first plurality of blocks of packets that indicate whether the reception of each of the first plurality of blocks of packets satisfied a criteria;
• selecting a first throughput rate associated with the first value based on the first plurality of reports;
• iteratively sending a second plurality of blocks of packets through a network, wherein the second plurality of blocks of packets have a differential treatment field set to a second value, and wherein the second plurality of blocks of packets are sent through the network at different throughput rates, wherein the second value is different than the first value;
• receiving a second plurality of reports corresponding to the second plurality of blocks of packets that indicate whether the reception of each of the second plurality of blocks of packets satisfied the criteria;
• selecting a second throughput rate associated with the second value based on the second plurality of reports, wherein the second throughput rate is different than the first throughput rate;
• and,
• setting a differential treatment field in a packet to the first value based on a comparison between the first throughput rate and the second throughput rate.

A communication system, comprising:

• a first system coupled to a network;
• a second system coupled to the network, wherein a packet sent from the first system to the second system is relayed by at least one router in the network;
• and wherein the first system sends a first block of packets through the network to the second system at a first throughput rate, said first block of packets having a differential treatment field set to a first value;
• and wherein the first system sends a second block of packets through the network at a second throughput rate, said second block of packets having a differential treatment field set to a second value;
• and wherein the first value is different than the second value, and the first throughput rate is different than the second throughput rate;
• and wherein the second system generates a first report indicating that the reception of the first block of packets satisfies a criteria;
• and wherein the second system generates a second report indicating that the reception of the second block of packets satisfies the criteria;
• and wherein the communication system selects a treatment field value for the differential treatment field based on a comparison between the first report and the second report;
• and,
• wherein the first system sends a packet to the network, said packet having a differential treatment field set to the treatment field value.