A policy framework for integrated and differentiated services in the Internet

We examine the issues that arise in the definition, deployment, and management of policies related to QoS in an IP network. The article provides an overview of requirements for QoS policies, alternative policy architectures that can be deployed in a network, different protocols that can be used to exchange policy information, and exchange of policy information among different administrative domains. We discuss current issues being examined in IETF and other standards bodies, as well as issues explored in ongoing policy-related research at different universities and research laboratories.