Secure network architecture with quality of service

Abstract

In a wide area network arrangement composed of some number of secure local networks and an Internet service provider (ISP) back-bone, LAN hosts are able to indirectly access network routers, through an ISP quality of service (QoS) module, to request that information transmitted during certain specified sessions be given priority treatment by the network.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving parameters defining a quality of service (QoS) session from a user via an applet provided at a host machine of the user; and    setting up the QoS session on a transmission path between an originating router and a destination router according to the parameters of the QoS session provided by the user;    wherein a QoS module performs the setting up of the QoS session and is located at a QoS hosting site that is communicably coupled to the originating and destination routers.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applet includes inputs for at least one of sender information, receiver information, reservation information, miscellaneous information, and session status.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter definitions are sent to the QoS module from the user as a standard Internet Protocol (IP) message.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the QoS session establishes a pre-determined service level between the originating router and the destination router by setting the parameters for the routers to maintain during the QoS session.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sender information identifies a host Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port for a source of priority data sent via the QoS session.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the receiver information identifies the Internet Protocol (IP) address and ports of recipients of priority data sent via the QoS session sent via the QoS session.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reservation information identifies the characteristics of priority data, and includes at least one of bandwidth, RSVP service type, and protocol type.  
     
     
         8 . A quality of service (QoS) module to set up a QoS session between an originating router and a destination router, comprising: 
 a browser user interface module to provide a session set-up applet to a user at a host machine, the applet including QoS session parameters to be defined by the user; and    a session setup server communicably coupled to the browser user interface module to: 
 receive the defined QoS session parameters via the applet from the user; and  
 set up the QoS session on a transmission path between the originating router and the destination router according to the defined QoS session parameters;  
   wherein the QoS module is located at a QoS hosting site that is communicably coupled to the originating and destination routers.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applet includes inputs for at least one of sender information, receiver information, reservation information, miscellaneous information, and session status.  
     
     
         10 . The QoS module of  claim 8 , wherein the defined QoS parameter definitions are sent to the session setup server from the user as a standard Internet Protocol (IP) message.  
     
     
         11 . The QoS module of  claim 8 , wherein the QoS session establishes a pre-determined service level between the originating router and the destination router by setting the parameters for the routers to maintain during the QoS session.  
     
     
         12 . The QoS module of  claim 9 , wherein the miscellaneous information identifies users that can access the QoS module by login name, sets a maximum duration of the QoS session, allows the QoS session to be saved in a database, and allows the QoS session to be reset.  
     
     
         13 . The QoS module of  claim 9 , wherein the session status information presents dynamic status on a state of a requested QoS session.  
     
     
         14 . An article of manufacture, comprising a computer-readable medium including data that, when accessed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving parameters defining a quality of service (QoS) session from a user via an applet provided to the user at a host machine; and    setting up the QoS session on a transmission path between an originating router and a destination router according to the parameters of the QoS session provided by the user;    wherein a QoS module performs the setting up of the QoS session and is located at a QoS hosting site that is communicably coupled to the originating and destination routers.    
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the applet includes inputs for at least one of sender information, receiver information, reservation information, miscellaneous information, and session status.  
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the parameter definitions are sent to the QoS module from the user as a standard Internet Protocol (IP) message.  
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein the QoS session establishes a pre-determined service level between the originating router and the destination router by setting the parameters for the routers to maintain during the QoS session.  
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the sender information identifies a host Internet Protocol (IP) address and port for a source of priority data sent via the QoS session.  
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver information identifies the Internet Protocol (IP) address and ports of recipients of priority data sent via the QoS session.  
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the reservation information identifies the characteristics of priority data sent via the QoS session, including at least one of bandwidth, RSVP service type, and protocol type.