Abstract: A method and system for transferring user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system are disclosed. According to the method, a source core (CN) network determines to transfer a UE that it serves and sends a transfer instruction carrying UE transfer restriction information to the UE; an access network receives a transfer request that is sent by the UE according to the restriction information carried in the transfer instruction; the access network selects a target CN entity that is different from the source CN entity for the UE; and the UE is transferred to the target CN entity. The method and system provided by the present invention are applicable to user transferring between CN entities in any communication network. The transferring is initiated by a network side entity, and a more preferable CN entity is selected for the UE to provide a better service.

Abstract: A system and method for specifying the quality of service in a transmission of data packets between a service entity and a user equipment is provided. A plurality of service classes relating to the quality of service are preconfigured and a selected service class is selected. A first transmission context, associated with a first set of attributes, is established between a core network node and the user equipment. A second transmission context, associated with a second set of attributes, is established between an access node and the user equipment. The selected service class is specified by a third set of attributes, which is forwarded to the core network node and the access node. The third set of attributes is used to determine the first set of attributes and/or the second set of attributes.

Abstract: Techniques for packet routing in an on-chip network are provided. In one embodiment, a method for routing packets in a multi-core processor including multiple cores connected by an on-chip network includes identifying ports that are incorrect while routing the packet. After receiving the packet at an input port, some of the ports are excluded from consideration while selecting the output port for the packet. The output port is selected from the remaining ports and the packet is routed to the selected output port.

Abstract: A server receives a first echo request message which complies with an Internet control message protocol, extracts filtering information from hear information of the received first echo request message, and when a second echo request message which complies with the Internet control message protocol is received, compares header information of the received second echo request message and the extracted filtering information so as to determine whether to block an attacking packet for the received second echo request message. According to the present invention, the server blocks the attacking packet using the Internet control message protocol, thereby blocking a denial-of-service attack.

Abstract: Network traffic flow records received from a network probe are filtered and short traffic flows are selected so that the total number of short traffic flows is high but the number of bytes in the short traffic flows is negligible, followed by discarding of the short traffic flows. Traffic flow data is recorded in multiple sets of buckets of different granularity, optimized for the purpose of almost instant analysis and display as well as for longer term report generation. The traffic flow data is pre-processed and stored redundantly in parallel in multiple bucketized data base tables of different time window sizes. A corresponding method and system are provided.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring network performance using the inter-packet gap metric are described. According to one approach, a computer-implemented method comprises a plurality of inter-packet gap buckets, along with their associated counts and inter-packet gap value ranges, being created and stored at a network node. Two or more network packets are received at a network node as a part of at least one unidirectional flow. For each successively received packet, the network node then determines the inter-packet gap value. Next, the network node compares the inter-packet gap value with the different discrete inter-packet gap value ranges that are associated with the stored inter-packet gap buckets. If the inter-packet gap value is included in an inter-packet gap value range associated with a particular inter-packet gap bucket then the that bucket is updated. The network node then exports the inter-packet gap metric data to a computer system.

Abstract: Transmission equipment comprises: a measurement unit configured to measure respective transmission delays of the plurality of paths by using a frame transmitted between the transmission equipment and correspondent equipment; a detector configured to detect a priority of an input packet; a selector configured to select a path for transmitting the input packet from among the plurality of paths; and a frame processing unit configured to transmit a frame onto which the input packet is mapped to the correspondent equipment through a path selected by the selector. The selector selects an alternative path for transmitting the input packet from among the plurality of paths based on the priority of the input packet detected by the detector and respective transmission delays of the plurality of paths measured by the measurement unit when a failure occurs in a path that has been selected by the selector.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including the steps of: establishing at least one policy in a centralized policy management framework (PMF), wherein the policy includes at least one policy condition; monitoring data traffic; determining if the data traffic at least substantially meets one of the policy conditions; sending a trigger to the PMF, if at least one of the policy conditions is at least substantially met; generating an enforcement decision at the PMF, wherein the enforcement decision includes at least one enforcement action; sending the enforcement decision to an enforcement function; and enforcing the enforcement decision. A system for realizing this method is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for channel estimation, including that: a small-scale fading channel of each carrier of each interfering channel is obtained respectively according to a Gaussian distribution; a total interfering power PI of all interfering SRSs is calculated according to the obtained small-scale fading channel of each carrier of each interfering channel and a generated large-scale fading gain of each carrier of each interfering channel; interference-equivalent noise NI is calculated according to the total interfering power PI; and channel estimation is performed according to a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) Y received by an Evolved Node B (eNB), wherein Y is calculated with a formula Y=SH+NI+N0. The disclosure further provides a device for channel estimation. With the disclosure, it is not required to generate small-scale fading of an interfering channel, reducing complexity of, and thereby improving efficiency in, simulation.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct the communication apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring a type of transmission data referring to information about the transmission data, and limiting a search range of a network bandwidth, in response to the acquired type of the transmission data, wherein the network bandwidth is measured by a transmission interval of a transmission of a plurality of packets via a network, and a reception interval of a reception of the plurality of packets via a network. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that further instruct the communication apparatus to execute steps comprising setting the search range according to the limited search range, and transmitting a packet within the limited search range for measuring the network bandwidth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ranging transmission method comprising: a mobile station receiving a message including backoff window information from a base station; the mobile station determining an x-th backoff window for an x-th (x is a non-negative integer) ranging transmission using the backoff window information; the mobile station performing the x-th ranging transmission to the base station within the x-th backoff window; and the mobile station determining a start point of an (x+1)th backoff window on the basis of an end point of the x-th backoff window.

Abstract: Data traffic is monitored on a network and data access elements thereof are collected. The collected data access elements are compared to security rules providing sets of predefined data access elements for identifying predefined data accesses. First audit data collections for data accesses are sent to a first repository. For a data access that matches one of the rules, a second audit data collection defined by the matching rule is sent to at least a second repository designated by the matching rule.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present disclosure, improved capabilities are described for conserving back haul utilization in a wireless network, where optimization servers utilizing publish-subscribe broker services are provided within the wireless network to provide streaming data services required for applications streaming data to a plurality of mobile cellular devices, where the streaming data is not necessarily delivered to each of the plurality of mobile cellular devices at the same time.

Abstract: Method and system for a network device having a plurality of queues for receiving information from another device is provided. The device determines if all requests for transferring frames from the plurality of queues have been sent to an arbitration module that arbitrates and selects requests for transmitting frames associated with the selected requests. When all requests have not been selected, then selecting a tag having information regarding a next frame, when a destination of the next frame or a transmit queue of the next frame does not match a destination or a transmit queue of any other frame for which a request has been sent to the arbitration module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a network packet loss processing method and apparatus. The method in the present invention includes: comparing a value of a current congestion window of a network with a buffer threshold when a packet loss event is detected, where the buffer threshold is used to indicate a data bearing capability of the entire network, where the data bearing capability is obtained by adding a data bearing capability of a link in the network and a data bearing capability of a buffer of a node in the network; if the value of the current congestion window is smaller than the buffer threshold, not performing backoff processing on the current congestion window; and if the value of the current congestion window is greater than or equal to the buffer threshold, performing backoff processing on the current congestion window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating resources to a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) includes the WTRU transmitting a signature sequence to a Node B, receiving an acknowledge signal from the Node B, and determining a default resource index. The resource index is associated with enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) parameters.

Abstract: A method of supporting power control in a communication network, the network including a plurality of network elements (1) that perform packet forwarding, wherein each network element (1) includes one or more ports—element ports (2)—, is characterized in the steps of assigning a flow table (4) to each of the network elements (1), wherein the flow table (4) includes flow entries (5) that specify via which element ports (2) to forward packets the network element (1) receives, deriving target sets from the flow tables (4), wherein a target set characterizes either a network element (1) as a whole—element target set—or an individual element port (2)—port target set—in terms of its utilization, and based on changes in the respective target sets, deciding on the enforcement of power states on the network elements (1) and/or the element ports (2).

Abstract: Data traffic is monitored on a network and data access elements thereof are collected. The collected data access elements are compared to security rules providing sets of predefined data access elements for identifying predefined data accesses. First audit data collections for data accesses are sent to a first repository. For a data access that matches one of the rules, a second audit data collection defined by the matching rule is sent to at least a second repository designated by the matching rule.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention describes a wireless device comprising a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) further comprising a memory for storing program code for performing a plurality of operations, and a processor for processing the program code to execute the plurality of operations, the operations including receiving over-the-air instructions via a wireless network from a control center to create a rules set in the SIM, wherein the rules set defines an acceptable behavior of the wireless device, monitoring requests from a wireless modem of the wireless device for access files stored in the SIM, detecting an aggressive behavior of the wireless device based on the rules set, and blocking the wireless modem from generating traffic in the wireless network.

Abstract: A base station apparatus, when performing the transmission controls of pico base stations, can perform an appropriate transmission control for each pico base station, while suppressing the increase of the amount of feedback information from a macro terminal to a macro base station and also suppressing the increase of the amount of transmission control information from the macro base station to the pico base station. In this apparatus, a transmission control unit (102) updates, on the basis of the control information, the priority level of each of a plurality of different correspondences in which the respective ones of transmission control guidelines are associated with the respective ones of a plurality of control information history patterns, and controls the transmissions on the basis of the control guidelines determined from the control information histories and the correspondences each having a respective higher priority level.

Abstract: Wireless networks and devices are ubiquitous today. For service providers to offer customers QoS and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) means in part providing resilient connectivity of wireless devices with good signal strength, good Signal to Noise and Interference Ratio (SNIR), and adequate useable bandwidth. Doing so requires that devices transmitting and receiving packets use over-the-air bandwidth efficiently and manage over-the-air congestion. According to embodiments of the invention QoS measurements and controls are incorporated only in the network (i.e. APs or controllers) and therefore QoS and SLAs can be achieved with all deployed client stations versus standards based approaches that require additional capabilities in network nodes, client stations and in most cases modifications to the applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a parameterized scheduling system that incorporates end-user application awareness and can be used with scheduling groups that contain data streams from heterogeneous applications. Individual data queues within a scheduling group can be created based on application class, specific application, individual data streams or some combination thereof. Application information and Application Factors (AF) are used to modify scheduler parameters such as weights and credits to differentiate between data streams assigned to a scheduling group. Dynamic AF settings may adjust relative importance of user applications to maximize user Quality of Experience (QoE) in response to recurring network patterns, one-time events, application characteristics, protocol characteristics, device characteristics, service level agreements, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A process and system for user-controlled configuration of an Internet protocol network. The user may supply input for generating a network configuration profile, which includes a number of classes of service (COSs) for prioritizing network traffic, including video transmission. A quality of service (QOS) may be measured and compared with a COS for video transmission. Depending on the measured QOS, a network alert may be issued and a priority of packets associated with the COS for video transmission may be increased.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for using a mobile station to mitigate interference between wireless access points. A mobile station communicates interference mitigation data corresponding to a first and second set of radio resources between a first and second wireless access point (AP). The interference mitigation data is processed by the first wireless AP to resolve conflicts in the claiming, and subsequent assignment, of the first and second radio resource assignments to the mobile station.

Abstract: System, method and apparatus for network congestion management and network resource isolation. A high level network usage and device architecture is provided that can satisfy buffering and network bandwidth resource management for data center networks. The congestion management can be defined to bring the reaction point closer to the network ports. In one embodiment, the reaction point is resident in a network interface card (NIC).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing congestion in a data network. In a data network, various data flows are transmitted between source and destination nodes. One or more computing devices of the network may be configured to detecting congestion in a first path and provide an indication of the congestion, directly or indirectly, to a destination device. A switch associated with the path is designated for performing rebalancing of the flow based at least in part on a control message generated in response to an instruction received, either directly or indirectly, from a source device. Reassignment of the congested flow to a new path can help alleviate congestion and improve network performance.

Abstract: A wireless communication system of the present invention includes: terminals; a base station that performs wireless communication with the terminals; a gateway apparatus that manages the terminals and the base station; and a server apparatus that authenticates the terminals. The gateway apparatus includes: at least one C-plane processor that processes C-plane; and N U-plane processors that process U plane. Each of the N U-plane processors notifies the C-plane processor of its own load status. The server apparatus notifies the C-plane processor of service levels of target terminals that try to perform entry to a network in which the base station and the gateway apparatus are located. The C-plane processor allocates, based on the load status of each of the N U-plane processors and the service levels of the target terminals, one of the N U-plane processors as an entry destination to the target terminals.

Abstract: A secondary wireless communication device may send and receive instant messages by causing a primary wireless communication device to send and receive the messages on behalf of the secondary wireless mobile communication device through a cellular communication system. To accomplish this, the primary and secondary devices may wirelessly communicate with one another through a connection other than the cellular communication system. Synchronization of instant messages between the primary and secondary devices may be maintained whenever the devices are in communication.

Abstract: A network switching device (101) for quantifying available service-level capacity of a network (201) for projected network traffic. The network switching device (101) includes at least one input port (110-1a), at least one output port (110-6a), at least one packet-handling module, and at least one test-packet module. At least one packet-handling module is coupled to an input port (110-1a) and an output port (110-6a). At least one test-packet module is coupled with at least one network switching-device module. The test-packet module is to affect presence of a test packet in the network (201) for quantifying available service-level capacity of the network (201) for projected network traffic. A packet-injection system and method for quantifying available service-level capacity of the network (201) for projected network traffic are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide I/O systems, methods, and devices for interfacing pump controller(s) with control device(s) which may have different interfaces and/or signaling formats. In one embodiment, an I/O interface module comprises a processor, a memory, and at least two data communications interfaces for communicating with a pumping controller and a control device. The I/O interface module can receive discrete signals from the control device, interpret them accordingly and send the packets to the pump controller. The pump controller reads the packets and takes appropriate actions at the pump. The I/O interface module can interpret packets of data received from the pump controller and assert corresponding discrete signals to the control device. The I/O interface module is customizable and allows a variety of interfaces and control schemes to be implemented with a particular multiple stage pump without changing the hardware of the pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for performing flow shaping that maintains service quality in packet-switched telecommunications. Using the method according to the invention, the speed properties (CIR, PIR, CBS) of an aggregate flow (A) can be monitored and limited in a situation, in which the aggregate flow contains delay-critical traffic (V1), the forwarding of packets representing which cannot be delayed. The invention is based on the fact that, when forwarding packets representing the aggregate flow, a variable is updated, the value of which expresses the earliest permitted moment, at which a packet, representing traffic (V2) other than the delay-critical traffic, can be forwarded. In that case, the transfer speed of the traffic (V2) other than delay-critical traffic adapts to the variations in the transfer speed of the delay-critical traffic, allowing the speed properties of the aggregate flow to be monitored and limited.

Abstract: A wireless access node and method for performing signaling aggregation for a plurality of User Equipment devices (UEs) through a hub UE are provided. The wireless access node in one example includes a communication transceiver configured to allocate traffic channels and signaling channels between the wireless access node and the plurality of UEs and a processing system configured to determine whether a signaling load exceeds a predetermined signaling load threshold, if the signaling load exceeds the predetermined signaling load threshold, then select a hub UE from among the plurality of UEs, with remaining UEs comprising one or more secondary UEs, allocate a plurality of traffic channels between the wireless access node and the hub UE, and relay all signaling for the one or more secondary UEs through the hub UE via signaling aggregation using one or more traffic channels of the plurality of traffic channels.

Abstract: A network control method and device collect a network state in a network through an edge device. On the basis of the network state, the network control device guides traffic transmitted from a user site, through the edge device to a specific route in the network or a specific receiving end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a network node and a method in a radio communications network for providing a radio interface between the radio base station and a mobile terminal, provided to assign transmission rates to the mobile terminal to be used in an uplink packet data channel from the mobile terminal to the radio base station. A receiver is provided to receive at least a first rate request from the mobile terminal requesting increased transmission rate, a measurement device is provided to measure the utilised transmission rate for the packet data transmission from the mobile terminal to the radio base station, and a message transmitter is provided to send a new grant message to the mobile terminal repeating the first transmission rate, if the measured transmission rate is lower than a first specified fraction of the assigned first transmission rate.

Abstract: Network bandwidth is allocated to virtual machines (VMs) according to a node hierarchy that includes a root node, intermediate nodes, and leaf nodes, wherein each leaf node represents a queue of packet transmission requests from a VM and each intermediate node represents a grouping of leaf queues. As VMs generate requests to transmit packets over the network, the network bandwidth is allocated by queuing packets for transmission in the leaf nodes, and selecting a leaf node from which a packet is to be transmitted based on tracking data that represent how much network bandwidth has been allocated to the nodes. Upon selecting the leaf node, the tracking data of the selected leaf node and the tracking data of an intermediate node that is a parent node of the selected leaf node are updated, and a command to transmit the packet of the selected leaf node is issued.

Abstract: An adaptive traffic manager assembly, which includes a computing module configured to operate on a current adaptive traffic manager configuration, and includes an adapting mechanism configured to adaptively change the current adaptive traffic manager configuration according to current wireless link conditions, a current Adaptive Coding and Modification (ACM) profile, or upon detection of an ACM event, and further includes a switch assembly configured to receive a first signal over a wired link and to output a second signal over a wireless link, and configured to store the current adaptive traffic manager configuration, and is further configured to automatically change a modulation and coding scheme associated with the current adaptive traffic manager configuration upon receiving an instruction from the computing module, in response to the detection of the ACM event.

Abstract: The invention relates to a telecommunications network configured for providing access to a plurality of terminals is proposed and a method therefore. Each terminal comprises a unique identifier for accessing the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network comprises a register, an access request receiver and an access module. The register is configured for storing the unique identifier of at least one terminal in combination with at least one grant access time interval, or an equivalent thereof, during which access for the terminal is permitted. The access request receiver is configured for receiving the access request and the unique identifier for accessing the telecommunications network from the terminal. The access module is configured for denying access for the terminal if the access request is received outside the time interval, or the equivalent thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for acquiring radio measurements in a mobile communication system. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of.—within a serving cell (A) operated by a radio access node (eNBA) and serving a particular user equipment (UEX), sending measurement control information (meas_ctrl_info) from said radio access node to said particular user equipment whereby said particular user equipment is configured to perform radio measurements,—within a further serving cell (B) operated by a further radio access node (eNBB) and subsequently serving said particular user equipment, sending a measurement report (meas_report) from said particular user equipment to said further radio access node comprising measurement data (meas_data) as configured by said serving cell and a cell identifier (PCIA) of said serving cell,—transferring said measurement data from said further radio access node back to said radio access node.

Abstract: Balancing load distributions of loopback ports includes determining that a load distribution among loopback ports of a switch is unbalanced, determining whether the load distribution is balanceable, and balancing the load distribution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling, either individually or in the aggregate, traffic flows associated with a plurality of queues by transmitting traffic source FlowON messages at first times selected to avoid queue underflow conditions, and traffic source FlowOFF message at second times selected to avoid queue overflow conditions, where the first and second times are determined as a function of delay time D of a link supporting the traffic source.

Abstract: A data frame is received at a network switch, the data frame containing congestion status information for at least a first traffic class and a second traffic class associated with packets being transmitted by the network switch to a network interface device. When the network switch determines, in response to the data frame containing congestion status information, that the congestion status information indicates congestion corresponding to the first traffic class, the network switch reduces a rate of transmission of packets (i) corresponding to the first traffic class and (ii) destined for the network interface device.

Abstract: A method of generating network traffic in a network device of a data communication network includes providing traffic generation parameters in the network device that describe a desired traffic pattern to be generated by the network device, generating a trigger packet in the network device, the trigger packet specifying a drop precedence for packets generated by the network device in a state defined by the trigger packet, replicating the trigger packet to provide a packet train, selectively dropping one or more packets in the packet train based on the drop precedence specified in the trigger packet, and transmitting the packet train from the network device.

Abstract: TDLS support in VHT devices is enabled through the use of added VHT fields in the TDLS frames. A VHT TDLS direct link can be setup through a respective TDLS Setup Request/Response with added field announcing VHT Capabilities of the VHT device and the peer device. Added VHT Operation field in the TDLS Setup Confirm frame adds supports between VHT peer devices for non-VHT BSS and VHT BSS. Two VHT STAs can establish wider TDLS channel than BSS operating channel through TDLS establishment. VHT off channel support is enabled by adding Wide Bandwidth Channel Switch field in the TDLS Channel Switch Request frame and no changes to TDLS Channel Switch Response. A VHT Capabilities field is also added to TDLS Discovery Response frame to inform peer devices of device capabilities.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a station circuit. The station circuit includes a data layer and a transport layer. The station circuit is capable of a source mode and a destination mode. The data layer of the station circuit in source mode disassembles a source packet into one or more source parcels and sends the one or more source parcels to the transport layer. The station circuit in destination mode receives the one or more destination parcels over a ring at its transport layer, reassembles the one or more destination parcels into a destination packet, and delivers the destination packet from the transport layer to the data layer. The transport layer of the station circuit in source mode transmits the one or more source parcels over the ring. The transport layer of the station circuit in destination mode receives the one or more destination parcels over the ring.

Abstract: Aspects of a high-precision packet train generation process are distributed among several distinct processing elements. In some embodiments a control processor configures a packet-processing unit with a packet train context that includes details such as the number of packets to be generated and the headers to be included in the packets. The packet-processing unit takes a packet to be used in the packet train and recirculates it a number of times, as specified by the packet train context. The recirculated packets, with the appropriate headers inserted, are forwarded to a traffic-shaping queue in queuing hardware. The traffic-shaping queue is configured to output the forwarded packets with a constant inter-packet gap. Thus, the generation of the multiple packets in the packet train is handled by the packet-processing unit, while the precise inter-packet timing is provided by the traffic-shaping queue in the queuing hardware.

Abstract: A slot reservation method is disclosed. The slot reservation method generates slot reservations in two dimensions to address starvation and to reduce bounce of messages transmitted through an interconnect. An interconnect implemented using the slot reservation method is capable of being scaled to larger network-on-chip implementations.

Abstract: A network device includes a memory with a first queue and a second queue. A timing module generates a first priority timing signal or a second priority timing signal based on a clock signal. The clock signal is shared between the network device and other network devices in a non-arbitrary network. The network device includes a deblocking shaper or a blocking shaper. The deblocking shaper (i) forwards first protected data from the first queue, and (ii) generates a deblocking signal based on a first frame signal and the first priority timing signal. The blocking shaper (i) forwards one of second protected data and unprotected data from the second queue, and (ii) generates a first blocking signal based on a second frame signal and the second priority timing signal. A selector module selects the first frame or the second frame based on the deblocking signal and the first blocking signal.

Abstract: A method of automatically detecting the service level agreement settings in an Ethernet virtual circuit (EVC) carrying user packets comprises generating synthetic packets different from the user packets, on a data path in the EVC at a level sufficiently high to saturate the EVC. This accelerates the detection of actual effective values for the Committed Information Rate (CIR) and the Excess Information Rate (EIR) by triggering traffic shaping devices in the data path to enforce the CIR and EIR settings configured for those devices. A plurality of traffic samples are collected from the data path during a sampling period that is long enough to allow the collection of at least two valid traffic samples, where a valid traffic sample is the amount of user packets measured between two consecutive losses of synthetic packets. The CIR and EIR values enforced by the traffic shaping devices are determined from the collected samples.

Abstract: A mobile station having a Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol client sends a message proposing a frame packing and frame repeating parameter set (1001). The called client may either accept the proposal or offer a revision (1003). If accepted the VoIP call is established (1009). If a revised proposal is received, it is determined whether the parameters are acceptable (1005). If not the call is declined (1007). If acceptable the call may proceed (1011). Both clients may then monitor network conditions (1013) and propose revisions to the parameters as conditions change. In this way, the VoIP application layer compensates for physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer inefficiencies in transporting the small frames used for audio data transfer for VoIP.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus used to determine whether to discard a network packet based upon the latency exhibited by an associated a network packet queue. Network devices can include a queue management module operable to identify a latency metric in network packet queues and determine whether the latency metric renders the network packet queue eligible for discarding packets based upon, for example, a latency policy.