Method of aiding the reservation of resources for a packet switching network, and associated management device and aid device

1. A method for reserving resources for a packet-switched communication network comprising a number N of relaying nodes, said reservation being established following a reservation plan, comprising:

i) determining for each of said N nodes at least one resource reservation plan defined by a plan identifier characterizing said reservation plan and associated with a stream identifier and with at least two ports of each of said N nodes, and in

ii) memorizing for each of said N nodes the different plans related to them, and

wherein each time that one of the N nodes receives a message requesting a new resource reservation or pre-reservation for a stream, a new plan can be determined for this node that is associated with this new reservation or pre-reservation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each plan determination relating to a node is carried out in the node.

3. Method according to claim 2 , wherein in the case of a requirement for determination of a new plan for one of said N nodes, this node attributes to this new plan a provisional plan identifier having a value greater than a unit at the highest plan identifier value existing locally for it, then it interrogates each of the N−1 other nodes in order to determine if one among them has already a plan associated with this provisional plan identifier, and if none of the other nodes has a plan associated with said provisional plan identifier, it attributes to the new plan said provisional plan identifier, whereas if one of the other nodes has a plan associated with said provisional plan identifier, it attributes to said new plan a plan identifier for which the value is greater than a unit at the highest known value of an existing plan identifier.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the case of a requirement for a determination of a new plan for one of said N nodes a plan identifier having a value greater than a unit at the highest known value of an existing plan identifier is attributed to this new plan.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a combination of N plans that must be used respectively by said N nodes is determined from among all said plans and according to messages received.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein a new combination of N plans is determined each time a new plan is determined for one of said N nodes, following the reception by this latter of a message requesting a new resource reservation or pre-reservation or the end of a resource reservation for a stream.

7. A device for managing resource reservation for a packet-switched communication network comprising N relaying nodes, said reservation being established following a reservation plan, wherein it comprises management means arranged to determine a combination of N resource reservation plans that must be used respectively by said N nodes, from among a set of resource reservation plans associated with said N nodes and each defined by a unique plan identifier characterizing said reservation plan and associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports of a relaying node, and

wherein each time that one of the N nodes receives a message requesting a new resource reservation or pre-reservation for a stream, a new plan can be determined for this node that is associated with this new reservation or pre-reservation.

8. An item of equipment, able to be connected to at least one node of the N relaying nodes of a packet-switched communication network or to be part of the latter, said item comprises a device for managing resource reservation for the packet-switched communication network, the reservation being established following a reservation plan, said device including management means arranged to determine a combination of N resource reservation plans that must be used respectively by the N nodes, from among a set of resource reservation plans associated with the N nodes and each defined by a plan identifier associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports of a relaying node, and

wherein each time that one of the N nodes receives a message requesting a new resource reservation or pre-reservation for a stream, a new plan can be determined for this node that is associated with this new reservation or pre-reservation.

9. A device for reserving resources for at least one relaying node of a packet-switched communication network, said reservation being established following a reservation plan, wherein it comprises:

i) calculation means arranged to determine for said relaying node, according to messages that it received requesting a resource reservation or pre-reservation, at least one resource reservation or pre-reservation plan, that said relaying node is able to use and that is defined by a plan identifier associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports of said relaying node,

ii) storage means able to store each plan definition determined by said calculation means, and

wherein said calculation means are so arranged that, each time the relaying node receives a message requesting a new resource reservation or pre-reservation for a stream, to determine for this relaying node a new plan associated with this new reservation or pre-reservation.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein said calculation means are arranged to attribute to a new plan a plan identifier having a value greater than a unit at the highest value known of an existing plan identifier.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein said calculation means are arranged to attribute to a new plan relating to a relaying node a provisional plan identifier having a value greater than a unit at the highest plan identifier value stored in the storage means, then to order the interrogation of other relaying nodes of said network in order to determine if one among them already has a plan Pi′k associated with this provisional plan identifier, then if the response is negative, to attribute to this new plan said provisional plan identifier, and if the response is positive, to attribute to this new plan a plan identifier whose value is greater than a unit at the highest known value of an existing plan identifier.

12. A relaying node for a packet-switched communication network, the relaying node comprising a reservation device according to claim 9 .