Method and Apparatus for Providing Relevant Service Levels

Abstract

Method and apparatus in a router of an IP network, for providing a relevant and expected service level for a first subscriber (A) in a peer-to-peer session with a second subscriber (B). When a session setup message (PATH) sent from the first subscriber is received ( 2:2 ) at the router, a required service level is detected from a service level indicator in the received message, and a service level definition of an operator of the first subscriber is obtained ( 2:3 ) for interpreting the service level indicator. Communication resources required for data transmission during the session are determined ( 2:4 ) according to the detected service level as interpreted by the service level definition. The determined communication resources are then booked ( 2:4 ) in the router, and the session setup message is forwarded ( 2:7 ) to a next hop node in the transmission path towards the second subscriber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a router for ensuring a service level for a subscriber in a peer-to-peer session, comprising:
 receiving, at the router, a session setup message sent from a subscriber for setting up a peer-to-peer session;   determining a service level in which the subscriber expects to receive data transmissions in the peer-to-peer session based on the session setup message and a service level definition;   allocating resources in the router for data transmission to the subscriber to ensure the determined service level; and   in response to allocating resources, forwarding the session setup message to any next hop node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a service level comprises:
 detecting a service level of the subscriber based on one or more indicators included in the session setup message; and   obtaining a service level definition for the detected service level.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining comprises interpreting the detected service level of the subscriber based on the service level definition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the session setup message indicates a location of the service level definition and determining a service level comprises obtaining the service level definition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining a service level in which the subscriber expects to receive data transmissions that differs from the service level required for the subscriber to send data transmissions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the service level definition is the service level definition of an operator of the subscriber and;   determining comprises fetching the service level definition from a server of an operator of the subscriber.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the service level comprises resolving service level parameters within the session setup message and translating the service level based on a service level definition. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising recording in the router a last hop node that forwarded said session setup message to the router, for further use to ensure that any session-related messages and data packets transmitted in an opposite direction are routed over the same path as said session setup message. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the session setup message comprises parameters mapped from a preceding Session Description Protocol (SDP) negotiation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein allocating resources comprises:
 determining communication resources in the router required for the router to ensure the determined service level, and   booking said communication resources in the router.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the session setup message from the first subscriber is a resource booking message, and wherein the method further comprises reserving said allocated resources in the router upon receiving a booking confirmation message sent from another subscriber in the peer-to-peer session. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining the service level comprises obtaining a service level definition based on a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) in the received session setup message. 
     
     
         13 . A router configured to ensure a service level for a subscriber in a peer-to-peer session, the router comprising:
 a receiving circuit configured to receive, at the router, a session setup message sent from a subscriber for setting up a peer-to-peer session;   a resource manager circuit configured to:   determine a service level in which the subscriber expects to receive data transmissions in the peer-to-peer session based on the session setup message and a service level definition, and   allocate resources in the router for data transmission to the subscriber to ensure the determined service level; and   a forwarding circuit configured to, in response to the router allocating resources, forward the session setup message to any next hop node.   
     
     
         14 . The router according to  claim 13 , wherein the router further comprises an obtaining circuit configured to retrieve the service level definition from local storage in the router. 
     
     
         15 . A method in a user terminal of a subscriber to obtain a relevant service level in a peer-to-peer session, the method comprising:
 obtaining a location for a service level definition; and   sending a session setup message to another subscriber over a transmission path comprising at least one router, the session setup message comprising a location for a service level definition and a service level indicator referring to a service level with which the subscriber is entitled to set up the peer-to-peer session.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI); and the session setup message comprises the URI. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining a location at a Quality of Service (QoS) control server of an operator of the subscriber. 
     
     
         18 . A method in a control server configured to provide a service level definition for a subscriber in a peer-to-peer session, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the control server from a router, a request to fetch a service level definition;   retrieving the service level definition from storage at the control server; and   sending, from the control server to the router, a service level definition to the router for the router to interpret a detected service level indicator of a subscriber, the service level indicator detected in a session set-up message sent from the subscriber.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the control server is a Quality of Service (QoS) control server of an operator of the subscriber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the service level definition is retrieved from an XML document maintained by the control server.