System and method for recognizing application-specific flows and assigning them to queues

Abstract

A system assigns network traffic flows to appropriate queues and/or queue servicing algorithms based upon one or more flow parameters contained in reservation requests associated with the traffic flows. The system may be disposed at an intermediate network device within a computer network. The intermediate network device includes a reservation engine, a packet classification engine, an admission control entity, a traffic scheduler, and a flow analyzer. The flow analyzer includes or has access to a memory that is preprogrammed with one or more heuristic sets for use in evaluating the flow parameters of reservation requests. When a reservation request that includes one or more flow parameters characterizing the bandwidth and/or forwarding requirements of the anticipated traffic flow is received, the flow analyzer applies the heuristic sets. Depending on which set of heuristics, if any, the parameters satisfy, the flow analyzer selects the appropriate queue and/or queue servicing algorithm for the flow.