Abstract: A system and method for transmitting data in a data communications network, using a transmission control protocol, to provide reduced acknowledgment control traffic, error recovery and congestion control. A communications link is established between a transmitter and a receiver. Setting the communications link includes setting a network congestion window to an initial length. A sequence, or stream, of data packets is sent from the transmitter to the receiver. The receiver detects any missing packets, by examining the sequence numbers of the incoming packets, and sends negative acknowledgments, generally no more than four, to the transmitter identifying the missing data packet. When the transmitter receives a negative acknowledgment, it decreases the length of the congestion window, and re-transmits the missing packet. Detection and use of round-trip time, re-transmission time-out are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for data flow classification based on a configurable rule-engine, is presented herein. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the system includes a data flow managing mechanism configured to identify, track, and manage the data flows and a rule set, which includes a plurality of rules for comparing information contained within data flow with pre-specified values. The system also includes a configurable classification rule engine for classifying the data flows into one of a plurality of traffic classes based on results of the comparisons. The configurable classification rule engine is configured via a configuration file that specifies and allows for the modification and reconfiguration of the pre-specified values and information regarding the data flows, the rule set, and the traffic classes.

Abstract: Different arrangements are provided for two-way RSVP reservations. The network resources needed for a two-way communication involving a first party and a second party are reserved via either a 3-way RSVP handshake or a 4-way handshake.

Abstract: Currently there are two techniques used to classify data packet flows, those techniques being static and dynamic. A proper combination of these two techniques can allow for the advantages of both techniques to be gained while reducing their respective disadvantages. With this combined flow classification method a flow is classified initially with the use of a static classification method while, at the same time, a dynamic classification method is initiated. If at any point during the dynamic classification method, the classifications derived from the static and dynamic algorithms converge, the flow's classification is henceforth assigned by the dynamic classification method. If a predetermined number of packets or length of time that would be required for the dynamic and static classification algorithms to converge is exceeded, the flow's classification, once again, is henceforth assigned by the dynamic classification method.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and apparatus for managing aggregate flows of data in a differentiated services (DS) network, fairness issues are improved by enforcing congestion control at the edges of the DS in a TCP-friendly manner network, rather than relying on congestion to accumulate at the core. This is done by establishing a credit system for each aggregate flow through the edge. Only if credit is available for the flow, will data from an edge node be forwarded to the edge node's DS traffic conditioner where the data packets can be marked using DiffServ labels. When credit is not available, the data will be queued at the edge node. Each time data belonging to an aggregate flow is forwarded to the traffic conditioner, the amount of credit for the flow is decremented. Credit for the flow is incremented only when control packets can be inserted into the flow. Specifically, the present invention establishes control flows associated with each aggregate flow. A control packet (i.e.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable in the context of the TCP/IP suite of protocols explicitly are provided which allow for separate and preferential treatment of L4-L7 control packets compared to the treatment of L7 data packets. This provides a performance gain at the cost of providing such preferential treatment for high error and long delay channels such as wireless links. Advantageously, channel utilization may be increased, for example by 5-50% depending on link conditions, on high error and long delay transmission links. More generally the invention distinguishes between control packets such as transport layer (for example, TCP, OSI Layer 4 or L4) and application layer (for example, OSI Layer 7) control packets and data packets, and transmits the control packets with higher reliability and lower delays. The benefit may be significant for IP applications where data objects transferred are small and are bursty, e.g., Web browsing and e-mail access.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically classifying TCP-based traffic, is presented herein. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method includes defining a first class to classify TCP data streams requiring interactive data transactions, a second class to classify TCP data streams requiring small data transactions, and a third class to classify TCP data streams requiring large data transactions. A rule set containing rules to define transitions between the defined classes, is established and an incoming TCP data stream as pertaining to the first class and detects attributes of the TCP data stream. The TCP data stream may include a single data transaction or may include a plurality of data transactions. Based on the detected attributes and the rules, the method dynamically classifies the TCP data stream into one of the defined classes.

Abstract: A bandwidth allocation system, device, and method for assigning a drop precedence value to each of a plurality of packets associated with a traffic stream having a target rate and a measured rate greater than the target rate assigns a drop precedence value to each of a plurality of packets associated with the traffic stream such that, of all packets assigned either a first drop precedence value or a second drop precedence value higher than the first drop precedence value, substantially (1−q) of the packets are assigned the first drop precedence value and substantially (q) of the packets are assigned the second drop precedence value, where q is equal to the ratio of a minimum target rate from among a plurality of traffic streams to the target rate of the traffic stream. Such a packet marking scheme may be used in a differentiate services communication system for proportionally distributing excess bandwidth between multiple traffic streams.

Abstract: A traffic conditioner is disclosed for use in a source edge device or ingress node in a carrier network. The carrier network includes: a plurality of virtual private networks, each virtual private network comprising a plurality of edge devices; and at least one core device for routing data between edge devices within the virtual private networks. Each plurality of edge devices includes: at least one source edge device; and at least one destination edge device or egress node associated with each source edge device. The carrier network also includes edge device communication means for determining the minimum aggregateRTT (minRTT) for the carrier network.

Abstract: Different arrangements are provided for two-way RSVP reservations. The network resources needed for a two-way communication involving a first party and a second party are reserved via either a 3-way RSVP handshake or a 4-way handshake.