Bi-directional and reverse directional resource reservation setup protocol

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for resource reservation are disclosed herein. In an example, a first router may transmit, to a second router, a path message comprising an indication of resources to be reserved and a bidirectional direction indicator. On a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are available to the second router, the first router may receive, from the second router, a reserve message, which may indicate that transmission resources have been allocated by the second router. On a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are not available to the second router, first router may receive, from the second router, an error message, which may indicate that transmission resources have not been allocated. In a further example, the resources to be reserved may be resources associated with voice traffic, video traffic or both. Voice traffic may include multiple party communications involving three or more users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reserving resources in a network, the method comprising:
 transmitting, by a router, a path message comprising a bidirectional direction indicator and an indication of resources to be reserved; and   receiving by the router, one of a reserve message or an error message, wherein the reserve message indicates that transmission resources have been allocated and the error message indicates that transmission resources have not been allocated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with voice traffic. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with video traffic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the voice traffic includes multiple party communications involving three or more users. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the router is wired router. 
     
     
         6 . A method for reserving resources in a network, the method comprising:
 transmitting, from a first router to a second router, a path message comprising an indication of resources to be reserved and a bidirectional direction indicator;   on a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are available to the second router, receiving, by the first router from the second router, a reserve message, wherein the reserve message indicates that transmission resources have been allocated by the second router; and   on a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are not available to the second router, receiving, by the first router from the second router, an error message, wherein the error message indicates that transmission resources have not been allocated.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with voice traffic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with video traffic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the voice traffic includes multiple party communications involving three or more users. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first router and the second router are wired routers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the path message includes resource allocation information for both communications transmitted from the first router to the second router and from the second router to the first router. 
     
     
         12 . A method for reserving resources in a network, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a router, a path message comprising an indication of resources to be reserved and a bidirectional direction indicator;   on a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are available to the router, transmitting, by the router, a reserve message, wherein the reserve message indicates that transmission resources have been allocated by the router; and   on a condition that the indicated resources to be reserved are not available to the router, transmitting, by the router, an error message, wherein the error message indicates that transmission resources have not been allocated.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with voice traffic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with video traffic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the voice traffic includes multiple party communications involving three or more users. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the router is wired router. 
     
     
         17 . A router comprising:
 a transmitter, operatively coupled to a processor, the transmitter and the processor configured to transmit a path message comprising a bidirectional direction indicator and an indication of resources to be reserved; and   a receiver, operatively coupled to a processor, the receiver and the processor configured to receive one of a reserve message or an error message, wherein the reserve message indicates that transmission resources have been allocated and the error message indicates that transmission resources have not been allocated.   
     
     
         18 . The router of  claim 17 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with voice traffic. 
     
     
         19 . The router of  claim 17 , wherein the resources to be reserved are resources associated with video traffic. 
     
     
         20 . The router of  claim 18 , wherein the voice traffic includes multiple party communications involving three or more users. 
     
     
         21 . The router of  claim 17 , wherein the router is wired router.