Protection of network flows during congestion in a communications network
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsJohn Evans, Francois Le Faucheur, Anna Charny, Xinyang Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor for mapping packets associated with network flows to policy profiles independent of congestion level at the apparatus, and enforcing the policy profiles for the packets based on a congestion state. Packets associated with the same network flow are mapped to the same policy profile and at least some of the network flows are protected during network congestion. The apparatus further includes memory for storing the policy profiles. A method for protecting network flows during network congestion is also disclosed.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- receiving packets associated with network flows at a network device;
- processing said packets at the network device, wherein processing comprises mapping said packets to policy profiles independent of congestion level at the network device, wherein said packets associated with the same network flow are mapped to the same policy profile;
- and
- enforcing said policy profiles for said packets based on a congestion state at the network device, wherein at least some of said network flows are protected during network congestion;
- wherein mapping said packets comprises performing a flow-based hash to assign said packets to a plurality of hash buckets, each of said hash buckets associated with a different one of said policy profiles.
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor for mapping packets associated with network flows to policy profiles independent of congestion level at the apparatus and enforcing said policy profiles for said packets based on a congestion state, wherein said packets associated with the same network flow are mapped to the same policy profile and at least some of said network flows are protected during network congestion;
- and
- memory for storing said policy profiles;
- wherein mapping said packets comprises performing a flow-based hash to assign said packets to a plurality of hash buckets, each of said hash buckets associated with a different one of said policy profiles.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for mapping packets associated with network flows to policy profiles independent of congestion level at the apparatus, said packets associated with the same network flow mapped to the same policy profile;
- means for enforcing said policy profiles for said packets based on a congestion state at the apparatus, wherein at least some of said network flows are protected during network congestion;
- and
- a flow-based hash device for mapping said packets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.