Intelligent traffic quota management in split-architecture networks

A network element, comprising:

• a control plane comprising a quota management module configured to:
• determine a quota amount to be assigned to a set of two or more forwarding elements (FEs) coupled to the network element in a software-defined network (SDN) for a first traffic flow associated with a subscriber end station, wherein the network element is to provide intelligent quota management for a subscriber flow quota associated with the subscriber end station, the subscriber flow quota being for limiting an amount of network traffic associated with the subscriber end station and between the subscriber end station and a data network through the set of FEs,
• determine portions of the quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs,
• assign the portions of the quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs,
• determine to change the distribution of an unconsumed quota amount amongst the set of FEs for the first traffic flow,
• determine the unconsumed quota amount,
• determine portions of the unconsumed quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs, and
• assign the portions of the unconsumed quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs;
• and
• a data plane configured to communicate with the control plane and each of the set of FEs, the data plane comprising one or more network interfaces.

A method in a controller executing on a server in a split-architecture communications network, the method comprising:

• determining a quota amount to be assigned to a set of two or more forwarding elements (FEs) coupled to the controller in a software-defined network (SDN) for a first traffic flow associated with a user equipment (UE), wherein the controller is to provide intelligent quota management for a subscriber flow quota associated with the UE, the subscriber flow quota is to limit an amount of network traffic associated with the UE and between the UE and a data network through the set of FEs;
• determining portions of the quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs;
• assigning the portions of the quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs;
• determining to change the distribution of an unconsumed quota amount amongst the set of FEs for the first traffic flow;
• determining the unconsumed quota amount;
• determining portions of the unconsumed quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs;
• and
• assigning the portions of the unconsumed quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs.

A controller network element, comprising:

• a control plane configured to:
• determine a quota amount to be assigned to a set of two or more forwarding elements (FEs) coupled to the controller network element in a software-defined network (SDN) for a first traffic flow associated with a user equipment (UE), wherein the controller network element is to perform intelligent quota management of a subscriber flow quota to limit an amount of network traffic to be transmitted between a data network and the UE through the set of FEs,
• determine portions of the quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs,
• assign the portions of the quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs,
• determine to change the distribution of an unconsumed quota amount amongst the set of FEs for the first traffic flow,
• determine the unconsumed quota amount,
• determine portions of the unconsumed quota amount to be assigned to each of the set of FEs, and
• assign the portions of the unconsumed quota amount to each corresponding FE of the set of FEs;
• and
• a data plane configured to communicate with the control plane and each of the set of FEs, the data plane comprising one or more network interfaces.