Hierarchical Policy-Based Multi-User Bandwidth Broker System Suitable for Large-Scale Bandwidth On-Demand Services

To maintain the communication quality of IP application flows in carrier networks where IP traffic is increasing, quality control devices that provide QoS for each flow have been developed. These devices recognize each application flow and control the quality of each flow. To control these devices in an on-demand basis, we have proposed a hierarchical policy-based multi-user bandwidth broker system. This system consists of a bandwidth broker system and quality-control devices. The bandwidth broker system is connected to the devices, an operator, and three kinds of users through each terminal or applications. The system is responsible for quality control and centrally manages all the quality control devices on networks. It operates as follows. First, the operator inputs the user information, resource information, and policy information. Second, the user submits a flow request to the bandwidth broker system. Third, the system decides whether the user should be granted the requested flow by referring to the policy and resource information. Fourth, the system sets the related quality control devices for a selected flow, and the quality control devices control the flow bandwidth. The bandwidth broker system has functions that provide a multi-user interface, hierarchical policies, flow-management according to a user request, and flow management based on flow reservations. Therefore, the system sets the quality control devices based on each user flow request, maintains consistency among the parameters of each device, and allows each user to set up their flow on an on-demand basis.