US7565436B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ethernet to frame relay interworking with multiple quality of service levels
Assignee: Ericsson AB
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Filing: 2003-12-24
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Granted: 2009-07-21
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Expires: 2023-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of supporting multiple quality of service (QoS) levels for data being transmitted between two networking devices, such as customer equipment (CE), that use Ethernet and Frame Relay (FR). The method supports multiple QoS services in a network where a first CE is connected to a first edge device (interworking unit) using the Ethernet protocol and a second CE is connected to a second edge device using the FR protocol. The edge devices may be directly connected together or they may be connected through a network backbone using any generally accepted network protocol. The first CE may be connected to the first edge device using a single Ethernet port, multiple Ethernet ports, a single virtual local area network (VLAN), or multiple VLAN's. The second CE is connected to an edge device using a single data link connection (DLC), or multiple DLC's. The method ensures QoS for data transmitted between the first and the second CE via the Ethernet protocol to the FR protocol and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Sameh Rabie
- 👤 Richard Pommainville
- 👤 John Whatman
- 👤 Bashar Abdullah
- 👤 John Rosser Davies
- 👤 Baghdad Barka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/4641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a packet from the Ethernet network; identifying the packet according to an Ethernet protocol for servicing; determining an Ethernet QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with the packet on the Ethernet network, said determining an Ethernet QoS metric includes considering Ethernet information, wherein said Ethernet information includes p-bits information; and based upon the determined Ethernet QoS metric, determining a corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric; and servicing the identified packet for transmission on the Frame Relay network in accordance with the determined corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network as was provided to the packet in the Ethernet network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on the p-bits information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a packet from the Ethernet network; identifying the packet according to an Ethernet protocol for servicing; determining an Ethernet QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with the packet on the Ethernet network, said determining an Ethernet QoS metric includes considering Ethernet information, wherein said Ethernet information includes p-bits information; and based upon the determined Ethernet QoS metric, determining a corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric; and servicing the identified packet for transmission on the Frame Relay network in accordance with the determined corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network as was provided to the packet in the Ethernet network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on the p-bits information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet information includes Ethernet port information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet information includes virtual local area network identifier (VLAN ID) information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the Ethernet information further includes VLAN ID information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a QoS metric includes considering Upper Layer Protocol (ULP) information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the ULP information includes Internet Protocol (IP) packet information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the IP packet information includes Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) bit information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the IP packet information further includes VLAN ID information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of servicing further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on the DSCP bit information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of servicing includes mapping the packet to a Frame Relay Data Link Connections (DLC) and scheduling the packet for transmission according to a sub-connection scheduling scheme.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of servicing includes mapping the packet to one of a plurality of Frame Relay Data Link Connections (DLCs) and scheduling the packet for transmission according to a connection scheduling scheme.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a packet from the Frame Relay network; identifying the packet according to a Frame Relay protocol for servicing; determining a Frame Relay QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with handling of the packet on the Frame Relay network by considering FR information; and based upon the determined Frame Relay QoS metric, determining a corresponding Ethernet QoS metric; and servicing the identified packet for transmission in accordance with an Ethernet protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Ethernet network as was provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on discard eligible (DE) bit information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a packet from the Frame Relay network; identifying the packet according to a Frame Relay protocol for servicing; determining a Frame Relay QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with handling of the packet on the Frame Relay network by considering FR information; and based upon the determined Frame Relay QoS metric, determining a corresponding Ethernet QoS metric; and servicing the identified packet for transmission in accordance with an Ethernet protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Ethernet network as was provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on discard eligible (DE) bit information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the Frame Relay information includes data link connection information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of servicing includes mapping the packet to an Ethernet port and scheduling the packet for transmission according to a class scheduling scheme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of servicing includes mapping the packet to one of a plurality of Ethernet ports and scheduling the packet for transmission according to a basic scheduling scheme.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other comprising: an input; and control circuitry associated with the input and adapted to: receive a packet from the Ethernet network; identify a the packet according to an Ethernet protocol for servicing; determine an Ethernet QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with the packet on the Ethernet network, said determining an Ethernet QoS metric includes considering Ethernet information, wherein said Ethernet information includes p-bits information; and based upon the determined Ethernet QoS metric, determining a corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric; and service the identified packet for transmission on the Frame Relay network in accordance with the determined corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network as was provided to the packet in the Ethernet network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on the p-bits information.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other comprising: an input; and control circuitry associated with the input and adapted to: receive a packet from the Ethernet network; identify a the packet according to an Ethernet protocol for servicing; determine an Ethernet QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with the packet on the Ethernet network, said determining an Ethernet QoS metric includes considering Ethernet information, wherein said Ethernet information includes p-bits information; and based upon the determined Ethernet QoS metric, determining a corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric; and service the identified packet for transmission on the Frame Relay network in accordance with the determined corresponding Frame Relay QoS metric protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network as was provided to the packet in the Ethernet network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on the p-bits information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the Ethernet information further includes Ethernet port number information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the Ethernet information further includes VLAN ID information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to consider Upper Layer Protocol (ULP) information to determine a QoS metric.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the ULP information includes Internet Protocol (IP) information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the IP information includes Diff-Serv Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) bit information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein IP information further includes virtual local network identifier (VLAN ID) information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to assign a drop precedence to the packet based on the DSCP bit information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to map the packet to a Frame Relay Data Link Connections (DLC) and schedule the packet for transmission according to a sub-connection scheduling scheme to service the packet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to map the packet to one of a plurality of Frame Relay Data Link Connections (DLCs) and schedule the packet for transmission according to a connection scheduling scheme to service the packet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the system is located at an edge of a core network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the system is located in a user element.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
179 words
A system of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other comprising: an input; and control circuitry associated with the input and adapted to: receiving a packet from the Frame Relay network; identify the packet according to a Frame Relay protocol for servicing; consider Frame Relay information to determine a Frame Relay QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with handling of the packet on the Frame Relay network; and based upon the determined Frame Relay QoS metric, determining a corresponding Ethernet QoS metric; and service the identified packet for transmission in accordance with an Ethernet protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Ethernet network as was provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on discard eligible (DE) bit information.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
179 words
A system of implementing Quality of Service (QoS) across Frame Relay and Ethernet networks to enable similar QoS to be provided to packets in both the Frame Relay and Ethernet networks as the packets pass from one network to the other comprising: an input; and control circuitry associated with the input and adapted to: receiving a packet from the Frame Relay network; identify the packet according to a Frame Relay protocol for servicing; consider Frame Relay information to determine a Frame Relay QoS metric for the identified packet, the QoS metric being associated with handling of the packet on the Frame Relay network; and based upon the determined Frame Relay QoS metric, determining a corresponding Ethernet QoS metric; and service the identified packet for transmission in accordance with an Ethernet protocol to thereby enable similar QoS to be provided to the packet in the Ethernet network as was provided to the packet in the Frame Relay network, wherein said servicing the identified racket further includes assigning a drop precedence to the packet based on discard eligible (DE) bit information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein Frame Relay information includes data link connection information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to map the packet to an Ethernet port and schedule the packet for transmission according to a class scheduling scheme to service the packet.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further adapted to map the packet to one of a plurality of Ethernet ports and schedule the packet for transmission according to a basic scheduling scheme to service the packet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-07-20 | 2013-01-19 | 2013-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-07-20 | 2017-01-19 | 2017-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-07-20 | 2021-01-19 | 2021-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |