Abstract: Described in an example embodiment is an end-to-end admission control system that allows any rich media application to secure admission control in an environment where there are mixed wireless and wired segments in the network. In particular embodiments, the system includes the integration of Add Traffic Stream (ADDTS) and Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) admission control mechanisms, the mapping of parameters between these two mechanisms, the admission control policies, and failure handling for the end-to-end resource control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first message from an application associated with a variable bit-rate (VBR) media flow, the first message including information that has at least an approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate and an amount by which a bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed. The method also includes determining an amount of available bandwidth in a network, and identifying the approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate and the amount by which the bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed. Finally, the method includes identifying a bandwidth allocation identified based on the amount of available bandwidth in the network, the approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate, and the amount by which the bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an illustrative technique determines when an end-user is within a specified proximity of a client device configured to provide an interface to a virtual machine. In response to the end-user being within the specified proximity of the client device, the technique may then allocate data center resources for the virtual machine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a request from a first endpoint to establish a session, determining whether a resource reservation may be established post-ring, and identifying a second endpoint to establish the resource reservation post-ring when it is determined that the resource reservation may be established post-ring. The method also includes notifying the second endpoint of the request and ringing the second endpoint. Notifying the second endpoint of the request includes notifying the second endpoint that the resource reservation may be established post-ring.

Abstract: A method for populating location wiremap databases. In particular implementations, a method includes establishing a link layer connection with a client on a switch port, where the switch port is associated with a port identifier and is mapped to a location; identifying one or more connection attributes of the connection, where the connection attributes comprise a network layer address of the client; and transmitting the port identifier and the network layer address of the client to a location server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a message associated with a data flow that includes a first indicator that identifies an amount of requested pool bandwidth and a second indicator that identifies a pool with which the data flow is associated. The pool is associated with a plurality of data flows that includes the data flow. The method also includes determining whether the pool has an overall bandwidth allocation, and, if so, determining whether reserving the amount of requested bandwidth would cause the overall bandwidth allocation to exceed a maximum pool bandwidth allocation. Finally, the method includes reserving approximately the amount of requested bandwidth when it is determined that reserving the amount of requested bandwidth would not cause the overall bandwidth allocation to exceed the maximum pool bandwidth allocation. Reserving approximately the amount of requested bandwidth includes increasing the overall bandwidth allocation by the amount of requested bandwidth.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first message that includes at least a first bandwidth request that specifies a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth request that specifies a second bandwidth. The first bandwidth is a preferential bandwidth. The method also includes determining whether the first bandwidth may be allocated, and storing the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth in a stored reservation state if the first bandwidth may be allocated. If the first bandwidth may not be allocated, the method includes determining whether the second bandwidth may be allocated. The second bandwidth in the stored reservation state if it is determined that the second bandwidth may be allocated. In one embodiment, if the second bandwidth may be allocated, the first bandwidth is removed during process prior to sending the message to a subsequent node upstream.

Abstract: A technique that allows existing reservations to be partially preempted by higher-priority reservations. An intermediate node receives a request to reserve resources for the higher-priority reservation. The higher priority entitles the reservation to acquire resources allocated to existing lower priority reservations, if necessary. If sufficient unallocated resources are not available on the preempting system to accommodate the higher-priority reservation, an error message is generated and forwarded by the intermediate node towards a receiver associated with the reservation that is to be partially preempted. The error message contains an error code and an amount of resources available on the intermediate node. The receiver processes the error message including selecting a reservation to be torn down, tearing down the selected reservation and re-reserving resources for remaining reservations, as necessary.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first message from an application associated with a variable bit-rate (VBR) media flow, the first message including information that has at least an approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate and an amount by which a bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed. The method also includes determining an amount of available bandwidth in a network, and identifying the approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate and the amount by which the bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed. Finally, the method includes identifying a bandwidth allocation identified based on the amount of available bandwidth in the network, the approximately minimum bandwidth at which the VBR media flow may operate, and the amount by which the bandwidth of the VBR media flow may be trimmed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a request from a first endpoint to establish a session, determining whether a resource reservation may be established post-ring, and identifying a second endpoint to establish the resource reservation post-ring when it is determined that the resource reservation may be established post-ring. The method also includes notifying the second endpoint of the request and ringing the second endpoint. Notifying the second endpoint of the request includes notifying the second endpoint that the resource reservation may be established post-ring.

Abstract: A method of initiating a communication session includes transmitting, using a call signaling protocol, a call invitation from a first node over a network for receipt by a second node. The call invitation comprises a list of one or more codecs available to the first node for use when transmitting data over a network. The call invitation additionally comprises a traffic specification associated with each of the one or more codecs. The traffic specification associated with each of the one or mode codecs comprises a plurality of bandwidth attributes that describe the flow of data when transmitting data using each of the one or more codecs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an illustrative technique determines when an end-user is within a specified proximity of a client device configured to provide an interface to a virtual machine. In response to the end-user being within the specified proximity of the client device, the technique may then allocate data center resources for the virtual machine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a message associated with a data flow that includes a first indicator that identifies an amount of requested pool bandwidth and a second indicator that identifies a pool with which the data flow is associated. The pool is associated with a plurality of data flows that includes the data flow. The method also includes determining whether the pool has an overall bandwidth allocation, and, if so, determining whether reserving the amount of requested bandwidth would cause the overall bandwidth allocation to exceed a maximum pool bandwidth allocation. Finally, the method includes reserving approximately the amount of requested bandwidth when it is determined that reserving the amount of requested bandwidth would not cause the overall bandwidth allocation to exceed the maximum pool bandwidth allocation. Reserving approximately the amount of requested bandwidth includes increasing the overall bandwidth allocation by the amount of requested bandwidth.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a path request message for a new data flow is received at a network node. The path request message indicates resources needed to accommodate the new data flow. The resources needed to accommodate the new data flow are compared to an amount of available resources at the network node. Provided there are sufficient available resources at the network node to accommodate the new data flow, the resources needed to accommodate the new data flow are associated with a held resources state. Subsequently, a reservation request message is received at the network node. The reservation request message requests resources for the new data flow. A determination is made that the requested resources correspond to resources associated with the held resources state. The requested resources are removed from the held resources state and reserved for the new data flow.

Abstract: A technique enables resources to be shared among data flows that may have different senders (sources) and/or different receivers (destinations) in a data network. Identifiers are associated with data flows and used to indicate whether resources may be shared between data flows. The identifiers are carried in signaling messages used to reserve resources for data flows. An existing data flow that is associated with an identifier that matches an identifier associated with a new data flow is allowed to share resources its resources with the new data flow.

Abstract: A method that includes receiving a reservation request from a first endpoint that comprises a bandwidth list identifying a plurality of bandwidth levels associated with the first endpoint. At least two of the bandwidth levels have a unique priority level associated therewith. The method also includes establishing a communication session between the first endpoint and at least one additional endpoint using a first bandwidth based on a first priority level. The first bandwidth and the first priority level are each associated with a first bandwidth level of the plurality of bandwidth levels. The method further includes detecting a bandwidth event that impacts a bandwidth used by the first endpoint for the communication session. The method additionally includes adjusting the bandwidth used by the first endpoint to a second bandwidth that is different than the first bandwidth based on a second priority level that is different than the first priority level.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a session call manager, service information transmitted from one or more service points on a path for a media flow between a source and a receiver, selecting from the service information, services to apply to the media flow at the service points, and signaling the service points to apply the selected services to the media flow. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of initiating a communication session includes transmitting, using a call signaling protocol, a call invitation from a first node over a network for receipt by a second node. The call invitation comprises a list of one or more codecs available to the first node for use when transmitting data over a network. The call invitation additionally comprises a traffic specification associated with each of the one or more codecs. The traffic specification associated with each of the one or mode codecs comprises a plurality of bandwidth attributes that describe the flow of data when transmitting data using each of the one or more codecs.

Abstract: Described in an example embodiment is an end-to-end admission control system that allows any rich media application to secure admission control in an environment where there are mixed wireless and wired segments in the network. In particular embodiments, the system includes the integration of Add Traffic Stream (ADDTS) and Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) admission control mechanisms, the mapping of parameters between these two mechanisms, the admission control policies, and failure handling for the end-to-end resource control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a Session Description Protocol (SDP) construct, the SDP construct being arranged to be included in a first signaling flow. The method also includes providing an attribute in the SDP construct. The attribute identifies an application type associated with a first traffic flow. Finally, the SDP construct is forwarded on the first signaling flow.