Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing RSVP capability for senders that either cannot or do not initiate RSVP processes is provided. An RSVP proxy is connected between a sender device and a receiver device on a computer network. The RSVP proxy detects a new traffic flow and determines whether an RSVP PATH message is appropriate for the traffic flow. If it is so determined, the RSVP proxy generates and communicates the RSVP PATH message through the network to the receiver device. The appropriateness of an RSVP PATH message can be based upon predetermined relationships or logic involving one or more of network parameters, transport parameters, and characteristics of the traffic flow, whether another RSVP signal is detected associated with the traffic flow, and other traffic flow attributes determined from decoding the traffic flow packets. The RSVP proxy can also interface with a policy server on the network to facilitate generation of the RSVP PATH message according to one or more of the traffic flow attributes. Alternatively, the RSVP proxy can include the policy server functionality itself.

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First Claim