Abstract: Monitoring packets can be sent periodically across IP network tunnels that traverse internet connections to a customer location, and the monitoring packets used to determine current packet-loss, latency, and jitter metrics in each direction for each available circuit. If monitored metrics change beyond set thresholds, a determination is made as to whether the changes are due to circuit saturation or some other cause. If saturation is the problem, logic at either or both tunnel endpoints dynamically adjusts QOS rate limits to optimum values (the highest rate that does not cause threshold violations) in near-real time.

Abstract: Monitoring packets can be sent periodically across IP network tunnels that traverse internet connections to a customer location, and the monitoring packets used to determine current packet-loss, latency, and jitter metrics in each direction for each available circuit. Circuits may be assigned to circuit sets, each most appropriate to various classes of user traffic, and user traffic assigned to circuit sets based on traffic class. If monitored metrics change beyond set thresholds, a determination is made as to whether the changes are due to circuit saturation or some other cause. If saturation is the problem, logic at either or both tunnel endpoints dynamically adjusts QOS rate limits to optimum values (the highest rate that does not cause threshold violations) in near-real time.

Abstract: In fire-fighting, a method of controlling operation of a fire apparatus as to at least one hose lay, the method comprising acquiring data at a location associated with the hose lay; communicating at least some of the acquired data from the remote location so as to be receivable at or adjacent to the fire apparatus; and based at least in part on at least some of the so-communicated data, controlling operation of the fire apparatus.