System and method for providing differentiated services

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and arrangements for updating the mapping of traffic in the form of a set of service level aggregate flows (SLS1, SLSM) to a set of partial resources (B1, BN) for forwarding the traffic in a communications network (21). Each service level aggregate flow corresponds to a service level associated with a set of service requirements. Information regarding traffic characteristics of each service level aggregate flow and performance of the set of network resources are obtained. Based on this information, the mapping of the set of service level aggregate flows to the set of network resources is updated to achieve a more efficient utilization of the set of network resources, while fulfilling the set of service requirements.

主权项

1. A system arranged to forward telecommunication traffic of a number of microflows in a quality of service enabled telecommunications network, each microflow being allocated a service level from a set of predetermined service levels to create a set of service level aggregate flows, wherein each service level is associated with a set of service requirements, the system comprising;
a set of partial resources implemented at least through buffering, the set of partial resources being arranged to forward the traffic in the network, wherein the set of service level aggregate flows are mapped to the set of partial resources, and the buffering being accomplished at least in part through hardware means; and a control unit implemented as a combination of hardware processing means and software means, the control unit being arranged to:
receive information regarding traffic characteristics of each service level aggregate flow and performance of the set of partial resources,dynamically update a mapping of the set of service level aggregate flows to the set of partial resources, based on said received information, to obtain an updated mapping, anddynamically update resource parameters governing the performance of the set of partial resources to obtain updated resource parameters, wherein when a service level aggregate flow is mapped to a partial resource, the service level aggregate flow is directed to the mapped partial resource, wherein a combination of the obtained updated mapping and updated resource parameters minimizes a total amount of wasted resources while fulfilling the service requirements of the service levels, wherein the wasted resources are resources not being used for transporting a given traffic mix, wherein the resources not being used for transporting a given traffic mix are still reserved and unavailable for transporting other traffic, and wherein the control unit is arranged to use a recursive optimization algorithm to minimize the total amount of wasted resources in view of the received information and the set of service requirements.