System and method for controlling communication flow rates
A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a discard eligibility indication may be provided with the data frames.
1. A method for providing access communications between a customer premise and a service edge, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processor, a first communication from a customer premise equipment;
encapsulating the first communication by applying an encapsulation structure to a frame of the first communication to yield an encapsulated communication, the encapsulation structure comprising a discard eligibility indicator and a carrier tag value, where the carrier tag value determines how the frame of the first communication is sent to the service edge;
determining whether the first communication exceeds a data rate threshold, the determining step including,
measuring a data rate of a second communication, and
determining whether combined data rates of the first communication and the second communication exceed a combined data rate threshold;
responsive to the determining whether the first communication exceeds a data rate threshold, setting a value of the discard eligibility indicator; and
sending the encapsulated communication to the service edge based on the carrier tag value.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication conforms to a protocol that does not provide for a discard eligibility indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication from the customer premise equipment comprises ethernet communications.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the discard eligibility indicator to a core network coupled via the service edge.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data rate threshold pertains to at least one of a physical port, a logical port, a customer, a flow and a set of communications conforming to a given protocol.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier tag value comprises the discard eligibility indicator.
7. A method performed by a network device, comprising:
receiving, at a processor, an encapsulated communication having a first encapsulation structure comprising a first discard eligibility indicator that indicates whether the encapsulated communication is eligible to be discarded, the encapsulated communication further comprising an encapsulated payload which is formatted in accordance with a communications protocol that does not provide for a discard eligibility indicator;
determining that the network device is busy;
determining, in response to determining that the network device is busy, whether the first discard eligibility indicator indicates that the encapsulated communication is eligible to be discarded;
discarding the encapsulated communication in response to determining that the first discard eligibility indicator indicates that the encapsulated communication is eligible to be discarded; and
further encapsulating the encapsulated communication by applying a second encapsulation structure comprising a second discard eligibility indicator to the encapsulated communication; and causing the second discard eligibility indicator to indicate a discard eligibility state consistent with the first discard eligibility indicator.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the encapsulated payload comprises ethernet communications.