Policing virtual connections

1. A system for dynamically assigning policers to links, comprising:

an aggregation access element connected to a plurality of links;

a plurality of policers;

a central controller in selective communication with the aggregation access element, the central controller being configured to determine a manner in which two or more of the plurality of links are allocated to share traffic of a virtual connection, the central controller further configured to assign one policer to each such allocated link;

wherein the central controller is further configured to provide tokens to each assigned policer, the total number of tokens provided to the assigned policers representing a committed information rate bandwidth allocated to the virtual connection, and

wherein each assigned policer is configured to send a message to the central controller concerning a number of tokens consumed by the virtual connection over that link, and wherein the central controller is configured to keep a current status of the number of tokens for each of the plurality of links allocated to the virtual connection and distribute the current status to each of the assigned policers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central controller is further configured to receive a first message from one of the plurality of policers concerning the status of a refresh interval, and to send a second message to the one policer concerning the number of tokens representing available bandwidth.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each policer is configured to drop a packet if the second message is received from the central controller within a predetermined time, and to forward the packet if the second message is not received from the central controller within the predetermined time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aggregation access element is connected to a packet switched network.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual connection includes a plurality of virtual connection flows that are each carried over a different one of the links.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links is performed dynamically and includes at least one of using a signaling protocol to determine the manner and determining the manner according to a number of virtual connection identifiers detected within a predetermined period of time.

7. A method, comprising:

monitoring traffic flow in a plurality of links; and

based on the monitoring:

determining a manner in which traffic of a virtual connection is allocated to two or more of the links, and

assigning one policer each to the two or more links according to the manner in which traffic of the virtual connection is allocated to the links; and

receiving a message from each assigned policer concerning a number of tokens representing bandwidth used for the virtual connection;

monitoring a current status of the number of tokens used for the virtual connection; and

distributing the current status to each of the assigned policers.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a first message from a policer concerning the status of a refresh interval, and

sending a second message to the policer concerning tokens representing available bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

dropping a packet if the second message is received from the central controller within a predetermined time, and

forwarding the packet if the second message is not received from the central controller within the predetermined time.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the virtual connection includes a plurality of virtual connection flows that are each carried over a different one of the links.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining dynamically a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links is performed dynamically and includes at least one of using a signaling protocol to determine the manner and determining the manner according to a number of virtual connection identifiers detected within a predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 7 , tangibly embodied as computer-executable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

13. A system for dynamically assigning policers to links, comprising:

an aggregation access element connected to a plurality of links and to a packet switched network;

a virtual connection that is transported over at least two of the links;

a plurality of policers configured to send messages to a central controller concerning a number of tokens representing available bandwidth for transporting the virtual connection over the packet switched network and the status of a refresh interval; and

the central controller in selective communication with the policers, the central controller being configured to determine a manner in which the virtual connection is allocated to the links, to assign at least one of the policers according to the manner in which the virtual connection is allocated to the links, and to send a message to the policers concerning a number of tokens representing available bandwidth for transporting the virtual connection over the packet switched network, to keep a current status of the number of tokens, and distribute the current status to each of the plurality of policers.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein determining a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links is performed dynamically and includes at least one of using a signaling protocol to determine the manner and determining the manner according to a number of virtual connection identifiers detected within a predetermined period of time.

15. A system for dynamically assigning policers to links, comprising:

an aggregation access element connected to a plurality of links;

at least one policer in communication with each of the plurality of links; and

a central controller in selective communication with the aggregation access element, the central controller being configured to determine a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links and to assign the at least one policer according to the manner in which traffic is allocated to the links;

wherein the central controller is configured to provide tokens to the at least one policer, the tokens indicating whether sufficient bandwidth is available to allow traffic over at least one of the plurality of links,

wherein the at least one policer is configured to send a message to the central controller concerning a number of tokens representing available bandwidth consumed by the traffic allowed over each of the links, and wherein the central controller is configured to keep a current status of the number of tokens for each of the plurality of links and distribute the current status to each of the at least one policers,

wherein the central controller is further configured to receive a first message from the at least one policer concerning the status of a refresh interval, and to send a second message to the at least one policer concerning the number of tokens representing available bandwidth, and

wherein each policer is configured to drop a packet if the second message is received from the central controller within a predetermined time, and to forward the packet if the second message is not received from the central controller within the predetermined time.

16. A method, comprising:

monitoring traffic flow in a plurality of links; and

based on the monitoring:

determining a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links, and

assigning at least one policer according to the manner in which traffic is allocated to the links;

receiving a message from the at least one policer concerning a number of tokens representing available bandwidth;

monitoring a current status of the number of tokens;

distributing the current status to each of the at least one policers;

receiving a first message from the at least one policer concerning the status of a refresh interval;

sending a second message to the at least one policer concerning tokens representing available bandwidth;

dropping a packet if the second message is received from the central controller within a predetermined time; and

forwarding the packet if the second message is not received from the central controller within the predetermined time.