HOP-BY-HOP BANDWITH CONSUMPTION MEASUREMENTS CONTROL COOPERATION BETWEEN CLIENTS ON A DATA NETWORK

摘要

A bandwidth consumption conflict may arise on a bottleneck data link in a data network, when a specific data processing system intends to use the bottleneck data link for a new data communication session. The conflict is resolved through negotiations with the other data processing systems that are currently consuming bandwidth on the bottleneck data links and/or with one or more other entities representing these other data processing systems at the negotiations. The negotiations may be initiated and conducted by the specific data processing system, or by another entity that is acting on behalf of the specific data processing system. The bottleneck data links may be determined by the specific data processing system itself or by yet another entity. The other data processing systems are identified by the specific data processing system itself or by still another entity. Eventually, the specific data processing system or its representative at the negotiations conducts the negotiations under control of the information, received from one or more other entities or determined otherwise, about the identity of the bottleneck data links and about the identity of the other data processing systems.