Method of operation for the integration of differentiated services (Diff-Serv) marked IP-flows into a quality of service (QoS) priorities in a wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system
A method for integrating differentiated services (DiffServ) marked IP-Flows into quality of service (QoS) priorities in a wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system. The system includes: a wireless base station coupled to a first data network, one or more host workstations coupled to the first data network, one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth using a packet centric protocol, one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network, and a resource allocator that allocates shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations. Included are the steps of: analyzing an IP flow for a differentiated services (DiffServ) marking; and scheduling the IP flows taking into account any the DiffServ marking.
1 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . A method for integrating differentiated services (DiffServ) marked Internet Protocol (IP)-flows into quality of service (QoS) priorities in a wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system, the wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system comprising a wireless base station coupled to a first data network, one or more host workstations coupled to said first data network, one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol, one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network, and a resource allocator that allocates said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations, the method comprising the steps of:
analyzing an Internet Protocol (IP) flow for a differentiated services (DiffServ) marking; and
scheduling communication of said IP flow over said shared wireless bandwidth with said resource allocator taking into account said DiffServ marking.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said IP flow comprises at least one of:
a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) flow; and an user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/TP) flow.
15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said analyzing step comprises:
identifying said IP flow having said Diff Serv marking;
characterizing said IP flow having said Diff Serv marking; and
classifying said IP flow having said Diff Serv marking.
16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said scheduling step comprises:
prioritizing said IP flow taking into account any said DiffServ marking.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said prioritizing step comprises a weighted fair priorities (WFP).
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said prioritizing step comprises at least one of:
prioritizing step based on a service level agreement (SLA) class priority;
prioritizing based on a virtual private network (VPN) subscription; and
prioritizing based on a virtual private network (VPN) subscription class priority.
19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein said identifying step comprises at least one of the steps of:
analyzing one or more IP packet header fields in said IP flow; and
distinguishing between a new and an existing IP flow.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said analyzing packet header fields step comprises at least one of:
buffering IP packets of said IP flows;
extracting identification information from said IP packet header fields of each of said IP packets; and
analyzing said identification information from said IP packet header fields.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said extracting step comprises at least one step of;
determining whether said IP packets are a packet version IPv.4 or IPv.6; and
parsing said IP packet header fields of said IP flows.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said analyzing step comprises the step of:
determining a source application type.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said analyzing step comprises the step of:
taking into account any said differentiated service (DiffServ) field priority marking.
24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein said DiffServ field priority marking is compatible with Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) RFC 2474.
25 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein said Diff Serv field priority marking is compatible with IETF RFC 2475.
26 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said classifying step comprises the step of:
associating a packet of an existing. IP flow with said existing IP flow.
27 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said classifying step comprises the step of:
grouping a packet of a new IP flow into a QoS priority class.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein said grouping step comprises the step of:
taking into account any said DiffServ marking for said IP flow.
29 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said prioritizing step comprises the step of:
taking into account any said DiffServ marking for said IP flow.
30 . A method of analyzing and scheduling traffic over a shared wireless bandwidth, the method comprising:
analyzing an IP flow to identify a differentiated services (DiffServ) marking; and
scheduling communication of said IP flow over a shared wireless bandwidth according to said DiffServ marking.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said step (a) comprises:
(1) identifying an application associated with said IP flow.
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein step (b) comprises:
(1) allocating system resources to said IP flow based on the contents of packets so as to optimize end user quality of service (QoS).