Network multi-source inbound quality of service methods and systems

Abstract

A computerized method useful for implementing a Multi-Source Inbound QoS (Quality of Service) process in a computer network includes the step of calculating a current usage rate of a provider entity. The provider entity is classified by a network traffic priority; implementing a fair sharing policy among a set of provider entities. The method includes the step of adjusting any excess bandwidth among a set of provider entities. The method includes the step of implementing link sharing at a provider-entity level.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . For wide area network (WAN) comprising a plurality of forwarding nodes, a method for implementing multi-source inbound quality of service (QoS) at an edge first forwarding node that connects a site to the WAN, the method comprising
 identifying a plurality of usage values for a plurality of other forwarding nodes of the WAN that forward packets to the edge first forwarding node along a shared WAN link;   based on the identified usage values, allocating bandwidth to each of the other forwarding nodes; and   configuring at least one particular other forwarding node to honor the bandwidth allocated to the particular other forwarding node.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein identifying the plurality of usage values comprises receiving, from each of the other forwarding nodes, at least one usage value that represents a desired quantity of network traffic that the other forwarding node expects to send to the first forwarding node. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein allocating bandwidth comprises allocating bandwidth for different types of traffics that are associated with different priority levels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein allocating bandwidth for different traffic types comprises allocating first and second bandwidth levels for first and second traffic types to at least one of the other forwarding nodes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein
 identifying the plurality of usage values comprises receiving, from each of the other forwarding nodes, at least one usage value that represents a desired quantity of network traffic that the other forwarding node expects to send to the first forwarding node;   the other forwarding node that is assigned first and second bandwidth levels for first and second traffic types provides first and second usage values for the first and second traffic types to the first forwarding node.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the other forwarding nodes comprise a cloud gateway. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the other forwarding nodes comprise an edge second forwarding node connecting another site to the WAN. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sites comprise a branch office of an enterprise and a datacenter the enterprise, or two branch offices of the enterprise. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising forcing the particular other forwarding node to reduce its transmission rate to a rate that does not exceed the amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular other forwarding node. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the usage value for each of the other forwarding nodes specifies an amount of bandwidth needed by the other forwarding node to send network traffic to the first forwarding node without dropping any packet. 
     
     
         25 . An electronic device comprising:
 a set of one or more processing units; and   a non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program which when executed by at least one of the processing units, implements a multi-source inbound Quality of Service (QoS) process at an edge first forwarding node that connects a site to the WAN, the program comprising a set of instructions for:
 identifying a plurality of usage values for a plurality of other forwarding nodes of the WAN that forward packets to the edge first forwarding node along a shared WAN link; 
 based on the identified usage values, allocating bandwidth to each of the other forwarding nodes; and 
 configuring at least one particular other forwarding node to honor the bandwidth allocated to the particular other forwarding node. 
   
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the set of instructions for identifying the plurality of usage values comprises a set of instructions for receiving, from each of the other forwarding nodes, at least one usage value that represents a desired quantity of network traffic that the other forwarding node expects to send to the first forwarding node. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the set of instructions for allocating bandwidth comprises a set of instructions for allocating bandwidth for different types of traffics that are associated with different priority levels. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the set of instructions for allocating bandwidth for different traffic types comprises a set of instructions for allocating first and second bandwidth levels for first and second traffic types to at least one of the other forwarding nodes. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein
 the set of instructions for identifying the plurality of usage values comprises a set of instructions for receiving, from each of the other forwarding nodes, at least one usage value that represents a desired quantity of network traffic that the other forwarding node expects to send to the first forwarding node;   the other forwarding node that is assigned first and second bandwidth levels for first and second traffic types provides first and second usage values for the first and second traffic types to the first forwarding node.   
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the other forwarding nodes comprise a cloud gateway. 
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the other forwarding nodes comprise an edge second forwarding node connecting another site to the WAN. 
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the sites comprise a branch office of an enterprise and a datacenter the enterprise, or two branch offices of the enterprise. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for forcing the particular other forwarding node to reduce its transmission rate to a rate that does not exceed the amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular other forwarding node. 
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the usage value for each of the other forwarding nodes specifies an amount of bandwidth needed by the other forwarding node to send network traffic to the first forwarding node without dropping any packet.