Intermediate network device applying application-layer quality of service to channels within a communication session

An intermediate device comprising:

• an interface card for intercepting a packet flow associated with a communication session between a client device and a server;
• a demultiplexer for splitting the intercepted packet flow of the communication session into a plurality of application-layer data channels, wherein each application-layer data channel represents an independent stream of application-layer data within the communication session, and wherein the demultiplexer assembles separate application data for each of the application-layer data channels of the communication session;
• a Quality of Service (QoS) module for performing QoS processing on the assembled application data of the application-layer data channels;
• a multiplexer for combining the plurality of QoS-processed application-layer data channels into a combined packet flow,
• wherein the interface card outputs the combined packet flow onto the communication session between the client device and the server.

A system comprising:

• a wide area network (WAN);
• a client device that exchanges network communications with a server across the WAN via a communication session;
• and
• an intermediate network device that intercepts a packet flow associated with the communication session, splits the intercepted packet flow of the communication session into a plurality of application-layer data channels, wherein each application-layer data channel represents an independent stream of application-layer data within the communication session, assembles separate application data for each of the application-layer data channels of the communication session, performs Quality of Service (QoS) processing on the assembled application data of the application-layer data channels, combines the plurality of QoS-processed application-layer data channels into a combined packet flow, and outputs the combined packet flow onto the communication session between the client device and the server.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

• intercept, with an intermediate device, a packet flow associated with a communication session between a client device and a server;
• split, with the intermediate device, the intercepted packet flow of the communication session into a plurality of application-layer data channels, wherein each application-layer data channel represents an independent stream of application-layer data within the communication session;
• assemble separate application data for each of the application-layer data channels of the communication session;
• perform Quality of Service (QoS) processing on the assembled application data of the application-layer data channels within the intermediate device;
• combine, with the intermediate device, the plurality of QoS-processed application-layer data channels into a combined packet flow;
• and
• output the combined packet flow from the intermediate device onto the communication session between the client device and the server.