Progressive and distributed regulation of selected network traffic destined for a network node

Abstract

An apparatus is equipped to receive network traffic data for network traffic routed through a number of routing devices with one or more degrees of separation from a network node. The network traffic data include at least network traffic data for network traffic destined for the network node which meet a traffic type selection criteria and are routed by the routing devices to the network node. The apparatus is further equipped to progressively regulate and de-regulate network traffic routing by the routing devices based at least in part on the received network traffic data and the degrees of separation of the routing devices from the network node. Regulation extends from routing devices with the lowest degree of separation from the network node to routing devices with the highest degree of separation, following in the reverse direction of the routing paths traversed by the packets to reach the network node. In one embodiment, the extension or push back is made one degree of separation at a time. In one embodiment, deregulation follows the reverse path, whereas in another embodiment, deregulation is determined and implemented locally, whenever regulation or the extent of regulation is no longer needed. In one embodiment, regulation is made in accordance with a not-to-exceed profile, and the not-to-exceed limit or limits are divided up as regulation extends away from the network node.