摘要:
A system and method for regulating the cell transfer rate over a network in response to priority level feedback. The feedback feature provides network connection availability information corresponding to a level of bandwidth available on the network connection to the cell source. The connection availability information is converted into a buffer occupancy level accessible at the cell source. The cell transfer rate is regulated at the network source unit in accordance with the buffer occupancy level, including decreasing the cell transfer rate when the buffer occupancy level rises above a high occupancy threshold of the buffer, and increasing the cell transfer rate when the buffer occupancy level drops below a low occupancy threshold of the buffer.
摘要:
A system and method for controlling the cell priority of cells transmitted from a cell source to network destinations across a network connection is provided. Each of the cells transmitted is registered in a measurement buffer upon being output from the cell source. The registered cells in the measurement buffer are discharged at a discharge rate corresponding to the current occupancy level of the measurement buffer. Cell priority values are generated by correlating the current buffer occupancy level to one of a plurality of predetermined buffer occupancy ranges to determine which occupancy range coincides with the current occupancy level. The generated cell priority values are loaded into cells transmitted from the cell source for use by the network connection.
摘要:
A system and method for controlling cell transmission from a network source unit to network destination units across a network connection is provided. A timer is initiated upon transmission of a cell from the network source unit. A timer output value, provided at the timer output, is adjusted to reflect a time lapse measured from the time of initiation of the timer. The timer output value is compared to an expected cell time interval upon transmission of a subsequent cell, to establish a rate variation indicator. The rate variation indicator generally indicates whether the cell transmission rate is increasing or decreasing at a particular time. A cell priority value, derived from the rate variation indicator, is loaded into the subsequent cell for use by the network connection.
摘要:
A system and method for managing elements of information at a network node received from a user access node. An access node includes a user/network interface (UNI), and a core network node includes a cell filtering unit. The UNI includes a measuring unit, which measures the actual momentary bit rate of a connection between the UNI and the core node, and a priority level computing unit, which computes the priority level of each cell using the measured bit rate and an established nominal bit rate (NBR). NBR represents an expected, but not guaranteed, bit rate associated with a particular user or connection. The connection may be a real-time or a non-real-time connection. A scheduling unit of a node accepts or discards an arriving cell based on the occupancy of a real-time buffer and a non-real-time buffer provided at the node. Cells accepted by the scheduling unit are transferred to either the real-time buffer or the non-real-time buffer depending on cell type, and read out of the buffers with preference given to cells in the real-time buffer. A UNI may include two measuring units for measuring a short-term and a long-term bit rate of the connection, respectively. Packets of cells may be processed by the scheduling unit, such that if the first cell of the packet is discarded by the node, then all subsequent cells of the packet are discarded. If the first cell of a packet is accepted, then the priority of other cells of the packet may be increased.
摘要:
A system and method for communicating elements of information between an access node and a core node of a network. An access node includes a user/network interface, and a core network node includes a cell filtering unit. The UNI includes a measuring unit which measures the actual momentary bit rate of a connection between the UNI and the core node. The UNI also includes a priority level computing unit that computes the priority level of each cell using the measured bit rate and an established nominal bit rate (NBR). The value of NBR represents an expected, but not guaranteed, bit rate associated with a particular user or connection. The connection may be a real-time or a non-real-time connection. A scheduling unit of a node accepts or discards an arriving cell based on the occupancy of a real-time buffer and a non-real-time buffer provided at the node. Cells accepted by the scheduling unit are transferred to either the real-time buffer or the non-real-time buffer depending on cell type. In general, cells are transferred out of the real-time buffer in preference to cells in the non-real-time buffer. In an alternative embodiment, a UNI may include two bit rate measuring units for measuring a short-term and a long-term bit rate of the connection. The priority level computing unit then computes cell priority values using the NBR and the short-term and long-term actual bit rates.
摘要:
A system and method for determining the minimum and/or maximum values from a number of sample parameter values utilizes a table of last occurrence (TOLO-table), together with a sliding window or filter, to greatly enhance the speed and efficiency when determining the minimum and/or maximum value from a number of sample parameter values that fall within the sliding window. The TOLO-table typically includes a parameter column for storing entries for each one of a limited number of discrete parameter values, and also includes a time stamp column which provides entries for storing time of receipt data associated with each parameter value defined in the parameter column. Alternatively, an order number column may be employed for storing number order entries corresponding to the order in which the parameter values are received. Every time a parameter value is received, the time stamp or order number entry associated with the parameter value is updated to the current time or order number. The sliding window may be defined on the basis of time or by a selected number of sample parameter values. The parameter values falling within the sliding window are scanned to determine the minimum and/or maximum of the applicable parameter values. A minimum/maximum determination methodology that employs a TOLO-table and sliding window may be used in a wide variety of applications, and is particularly useful in ATM network applications, particularly in implementing the cell discarding strategy of a network node.
摘要:
A system and method for determining charges for use of network service connections. The network includes nodes which facilitate the transfer of information between source and destination locations. When a connection is established with a node, a billing cell is transmitted to the node over the connection which contains billing and connection information. Data cells are transmitted over the same connection subsequent to the billing cell. A terminate billing cell or conventional means may be used to drop the connection when the connection is no longer needed. The node computes the cost of using the connection based on the billing and connection information copied from the billing cell, and may also consider the connection time and the amount of data transferred over the connection. Upon establishing a subsequent connection with another node, the previous node transmits the billing cell to the new node which copies the billing cell content and, after receiving the data cells over the new connection, performs similar connection usage computations. This process is repeated by each of the nodes involved in the transfer of information between the source and destination. The nodes transmit their respective charging information to a network billing system which generates a final bill that is forwarded to the user. The billing cell may be transmitted from the destination back to the source to verify proper operation of the billing procedure. Fixed rate and variable rate billing schemes may be implemented and augmented as needed by each network operator.
摘要:
A system and method for charging for usage of a network service connection. The network includes access nodes which provide user access to core nodes of the network. At an access node, the traffic of connections associated with the access node is measured. A nominal bit rate (NBR) associated with the access node is used together with the traffic measurement to compute a priority level at the access node. The value of NBR represents an expected, but not guaranteed, bit rate associated with a particular user or connection. The connection may be a real-time or a non-real-time connection. Information elements, transmitted from the access node to a core network node, are each assigned one of several priority levels, and cells are either accepted or discarded based on priority level and the status of one or more buffers at the core node. A charging schedule, based on a maximum allowed NBR established for the user, accounts for both a fixed or non-fixed monthly fee and a time dependent fee portion. The charging scheme may take into account that the NBR may be different for upstream and downstream transmissions. A charging counter, which accounts for the cost of connection usage, may be updated on a periodic basis, such as once a second for example, or on a non-periodic basis.
摘要:
A system and method for determining the minimum and/or maximum values from a number of sample parameter values utilizes a table of last occurrence (TOLO-table), together with a sliding window or filter, to greatly enhance the speed and efficiency when determining the minimum and/or maximum value from a number of sample parameter values that fall within the sliding window. The TOLO-table typically includes a parameter column for storing entries for each one of a limited number of discrete parameter values, and also includes a time stamp column which provides entries for storing time of receipt data associated with each parameter value defined in the parameter column. Alternatively, an order number column may be employed for storing number order entries corresponding to the order in which the parameter values are received. Every time a parameter value is received, the time stamp or order number entry associated with the parameter value is updated to the current time or order number. The sliding window may be defined on the basis of time or by a selected number of sample parameter values. The parameter values falling within the sliding window are scanned to determine the minimum and/or maximum of the applicable parameter values.A minimum/maximum determination methodology that employs a TOLO-table and sliding window may be used in a wide variety of applications, and is particularly useful in ATM network applications, particularly in implementing the cell discarding strategy of a network node.
摘要:
A system and method for reducing network node congestion by filtering out comparatively low priority packets prior to execution of other node functions, such as routing and switching, in packet-based network transmissions. The volume of packets is reduced by intercepting the information packets prior to their input to the network node. A portion of the intercepted packets are filtered out based on parameters corresponding to a probable packet acceptability at the network node. The remaining portion of the intercepted packets are forwarded to the network node for processing by the network packet functions.