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 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 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 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: A technique for reserving resources in a communication network for an entity. Communication units in the network register with policy data points (PDPs) to attain authorization to establish and receive calls in a communication network. The PDPs supply the communication units with security tokens that the communication units use to assert that they are authorized to establish sessions and reserve resources in the communication network. Communication units associated with a call include their tokens in signaling messages that are used to establish the call. Nodes along the path between a communication unit associated with a calling party in the call and a communication unit associated with a called party in the call use the tokens to authenticate the source of the signaling messages and determine whether they have permission to reserve resources in the communication network.

Abstract: A communication system includes a call agent that coordinates and supervises communications between endpoints. The call agent allocates a QoS agent for each endpoint involved in a call. The QoS agents generate reservations for the call in order to provide the call with a guaranteed amount of bandwidth and an established QoS. Each endpoint or location associated with an endpoint has a reservation policy that determines how calls are to be handled when a reservation is or is not obtained and when a reservation is lost or obtained during a call. The communication system is able to handle reservations, or the lack thereof, during various situations like on hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference call, and shared line services.

Abstract: A communication system includes a call agent that coordinates and supervises communications between endpoints. The call agent allocates a QoS agent for each endpoint involved in a call. The QoS agents generate reservations for the call in order to provide the call with a guaranteed amount of bandwidth and an established QoS. Each endpoint or location associated with an endpoint has a reservation policy that determines how calls are to be handled when a reservation is or is not obtained and when a reservation is lost or obtained during a call. The communication system is able to handle reservations, or the lack thereof, during various situations like on hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference call, and shared line services.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus, in a network, treat a reservation for network layer resources according to a domain of reservation treatment to which the reservation belongs.

Abstract: A communication system includes a call agent that coordinates and supervises communications between endpoints. The call agent allocates a QoS agent for each endpoint involved in a call. The QoS agents generate reservations for the call in order to provide the call with a guaranteed amount of bandwidth and an established QoS. Each endpoint or location associated with an endpoint has a reservation policy that determines how calls are to be handled when a reservation is or is not obtained and when a reservation is lost or obtained during a call. The communication system is able to handle reservations, or the lack thereof, during various situations like on hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference call, and shared line services.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a Quality of Service (QoS) fallback using Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) includes initiating a communication session with a QoS precondition between a first domain and a second domain. It is determined whether the second domain supports the QoS precondition. Intra-domain RSVP is established in the first domain if the second domain does not support the QoS precondition.

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 method and corresponding apparatus establish a reservation in a segment of an end-to-end path between a data sender and a data receiver, up to a point in the end-to-end path; attempt to establish another reservation in an adjacent segment of the end-to-end path, beyond the point in the end-to-end path; and in an event that the other reservation is established in the adjacent segment of the end-to-end path, bind the other reservation to the reservation established in the segment of an end-to-end path up to the point in the end-to-end path.

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 avoids unnecessary preemption of resource reservations along a requested flow between nodes in a computer network. A node receives priority-based resource reservation requests and determines conditions of reservation eligibility by comparing the requested resources to the amount of available resources at the node. Specifically, the node maintains a “held resources” state where available requested resources are held prior to their being assigned or reserved (confirmed) for the requested flow, such as, e.g., during an initial Resource reSerVation Protocol (RSVP) Path message. The node includes the held resources in calculations of available resources in such a way as to prevent resources from being assigned or reserved if the resources would be subsequently preempted by a request of higher priority, or if an earlier request would first utilize the resources. The node (e.g.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating data in a shared line environment is provided that includes a first reservation element operable to communicate with a second reservation element. The first reservation element is associated with a first location and the second reservation element is associated with a second location. A call may be initiated between the first location and the second location, the second location having one or more end-user devices that share a common line. The first reservation element is operable to reserve bandwidth associated with a connection that involves the first location and the second location before the call occurs.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus establish a reservation in a segment of an end-to-end path between a data sender and a data receiver, up to a point in the end-to-end path; attempt to establish another reservation in an adjacent segment of the end-to-end path, beyond the point in the end-to-end path; and in an event that the other reservation is established in the adjacent segment of the end-to-end path, bind the other reservation to the reservation established in the segment of an end-to-end path up to the point in the end-to-end path.

Abstract: A communication system includes a call agent that coordinates and supervises communications between endpoints. The call agent allocates a QoS agent for each endpoint involved in a call. The QoS agents generate reservations for the call in order to provide the call with a guaranteed amount of bandwidth and an established QoS. Each endpoint or location associated with an endpoint has a reservation policy that determines how calls are to be handled when a reservation is or is not obtained and when a reservation is lost or obtained during a call. The communication system is able to handle reservations, or the lack thereof, during various situations like on hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference call, and shared line services.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus, in a network, treat a reservation for network layer resources according to a domain of reservation treatment to which the reservation belongs.

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.