Assured related packet transmission, delivery and processing

Abstract

Systems and methods to enable grouping and routing of data packets are disclosed. Packets that together make up a data or content item may include grouping information that identifies or classifies the packets into a group. Grouping information may further contain information regarding maximum packet drop thresholds and instructions for a network device to follow if such a threshold is approached or exceeded. Network devices may receive and process the grouping information associated with packet groups and act in accordance with any given instructions. Network devices may intelligently decide to drop packets of one group to meet delivery thresholds for another group, including dropping all packets if necessary, or drop packets from several groups to meet delivery thresholds for all received groups. Network devices may notify other network devices about dropped packets and packet groups.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a first group of packets associated with a first video frame and a second group of packets associated with a second video frame;   determining that network congestion is present; and   determining, based on determining that network congestion is present, to drop at least one of the packets of the first group and at least one of the packets of the second group such that a threshold associated with the first group is satisfied.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold associated with the first group indicates a maximum number of packets of the first group that can be dropped. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold associated with the first group indicates a minimum number of packets of the first group that must be delivered. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that network congestion is present comprises at least one of:
 determining that a number of the received packets of the first group and the received packets of the second group exceed an output capability of a router;   determining that a number of received packets exceed an output capability of a router; or   determining that a throughput associated with a router is exceeded.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining to drop at least one of the packets of the second group comprises determining to drop all of the packets of the second group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining to drop at least one of the packets of the second group comprises:
 determining to drop at least one of the packets of the second group such that a second threshold associated with the second group is satisfied.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining to drop at least one of the packets of the second group comprises:
 determining that a second threshold associated with the delivery of packets of the second group is not satisfied; and   determining, based on determining the second threshold is not satisfied, to drop all of the packets of the second group.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of packets is further associated with instructions to be performed if the threshold associated with the first group is satisfied. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to be performed comprise an instruction to drop all of the packets of the first group. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to be performed comprise an instruction to send a notification to at least one of a sender of the first group of packets or a receiver of the first group of packets. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first group of packets associated with a first video frame and first grouping information indicating a first threshold associated with dropping of packets of the first group of packets;   receiving a second group of packets associated with a second video frame and second grouping information indicating a second threshold associated with dropping of packets of the second group of packets;   determining that network congestion is present; and   determining, based on determining that network congestion is present, to drop a number of packets of the first group that exceeds the first threshold associated with dropping of packets of the first group of packets to ensure that the second threshold associated with dropping of packets of the second group of packets is satisfied.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first threshold associated with the first group indicates a maximum number of packets of the first group that can be dropped. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second threshold associated with the second group indicates a maximum number of packets of the second group that can be dropped. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining that network congestion is present comprises at least one of:
 determining that a number of the received packets of the first group and the received packets of the second group exceed an output capability of a router;   determining that a number of received packets exceed an output capability of a router; or   determining that a throughput associated with a router is exceeded.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving retransmitted packets representing the first video frame.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first group of packets is further associated with instructions to be performed if the first threshold associated with the first group is exceeded. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending a notification that the first threshold associated with dropping packets of the first group has been exceeded.   
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first group of packets and first grouping information associated with the first group of packets, wherein the first grouping information indicates a threshold associated with dropping of packets of the first group of packets and instructions for actions to be performed if the threshold associated with dropping of packets of the first group of packets is exceeded;   determining that network congestion is present;   dropping, based on determining that network congestion is present, at least one packet of the first group of packets;   determining that a number of the at least one dropped packets of the first group of packets exceeds the threshold associated with dropping of packets of the first group of packets; and   executing, based on determining that the number of the at least one dropped packets of the first group of packets exceeds the threshold associated with dropping packets of the first group of packets, the instructions of the first grouping information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions comprise at least one instruction to drop all of the packets of the first group. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the threshold associated with dropping packets of the first group of packets indicates a maximum number of packets of the first group that can be dropped. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the determining that network congestion is present comprises at least one of:
 determining that a number of the received packets of the first group exceed an output capability of a router;   determining that a number of received packets exceed an output capability of a router; or   determining that a throughput associated with a router is exceeded.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving a second group of packets and second grouping information associated with the second group of packets, wherein the second grouping information comprises a second threshold associated with dropping packets of the second group of packets and instructions for actions to be performed if the second threshold associated with dropping packets of the second group of packets is exceeded; and   before dropping the at least one packet of the first group of packets, dropping at least one packet of the second group of packets to avoid exceeding the threshold associated with dropping packets of the first group of packets.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein dropping the at least one packet of the second group comprises dropping all packets of the second group to avoid exceeding the threshold associated with the first group of packets. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein dropping the at least one packet of the second group satisfies the second threshold associated with dropping packets of the second group of packets. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the threshold associated with dropping packets of the second group indicates a maximum number of packets of the second group that can be dropped.