System and method for large file transfers in packet networks

摘要

A packet switching network, e.g., the Internet, employs bandwidth managers to provide guaranteed bandwidth reservations to paired forwarding and receiving agents interfacing with sending and receiving stations in the transfer of large data files therebetween. The forwarding agents obtain guaranteed reservations from the bandwidth manager for segments of the large data file which are transmitted to the receiving station in accordance with the respective reservations. The receiving agent reassembles the segments into the large data file for delivery to the receiving station. By segmenting the large data files, using guaranteed bandwidth reservations on different links or multiple networks, the transmission of large data files through packet switching networks is accomplished without adversely impacting the service requirements of other network users. Reservations and concomitant transmissions are arranged up to the capacity of the network for the attachment which maximizes the transmission ability and allows the network to distribute the bandwidth usage to prevent network congestion.