Abstract: Packet network node and method of operating packet network node. Conventional packet network nodes react to congestion in packet network by dropping packets in a manner which is perceived by users to be indiscriminate. In the described system, indiscriminate packet discards are prevented by causing packets to be discarded on lower priority flows and flow aggregates. Further action is taken to reduce the likelihood of packet discards through: (1) classification of flows that are not observable at the point in the network where flow-based packet discards are deployed, but are consuming bandwidth and signaling classification information to flow-based packet discard function or a flow-based monitoring function or network management function; (2) classification of flows making use of extended monitoring functions that are not co-located with a flow-based packet discard function, where extended monitoring functions may perform monitoring of a flow or a group of flows over a period of time.

Abstract: A packet network node and method of operating a packet network node are disclosed. Conventional packet network nodes react to congestion in the packet network by dropping packets in a manner which is perceived by users to be indiscriminate. In embodiments of the present invention, indiscriminate packet discards are prevented by causing packets to be discarded on lower priority flows and flow aggregates. A further action is taken to reduce the likelihood of packet discards. When an aggregate set of flows raises a congestion alarm action is taken to try to increase the capacity of the aggregate through taking capacity from pre-assigned donor aggregates. A donor aggregate may be carrying flows, for example flows classified as best effort. Another type of donor capacity is donor re-assignable unused capacity.

Abstract: Conventional packet network nodes react to congestion in the packet network by dropping packets in a manner which is perceived by users to be indiscriminate. In embodiments of the present invention, indiscriminate packet discards are prevented by causing packets to be discarded according to bandwidth allocations that intelligently track flow sending rates. Flows are allocated bandwidth based on policy information. Where such policy information indicates that the flow should be treated as delay-sensitive, the present invention includes means to allocate an initial minimum rate that will be guaranteed and such flows will also have the use of an additional capacity that varies depending on the number of such flows that currently share an available pool of capacity. This provides a congestion alleviation method which is less annoying to users since communications that have been in existence for longer are less susceptible to component packets being deleted.