A method and apparatus for ensuring end-to-end QoS for user applications
operating in multi-transport protocol environments while using PVC or SVC
connection management procedures. A user application at a workstation
having specific QoS requirements can selectively connect to one of a
plurality of servers having varying QoS profiles, regardless of the
transport protocols used in the underlying network. The user application
initiates a session with a first QoS negotiator and a first QoS selector.
The first QoS negotiator queries a second QoS negotiator for the QoS
profile of a connected server. The second QoS negotiator, in conjunction
with a second QoS selector, notifies the server of the address of the
second QoS negotiator. The second QoS negotiator, in conjunction with the
second QoS selector, sends a response to the first QoS negotiator and the
first QoS selector indicating QoS profile and connection information of
the server. The first QoS selector stores the received QoS profile and
connection information in a database. The database is then queried by the
user application to determine if a server having the desired QoS profile
exists. If such a server does not exist, the QoS selection and negotation
procedures are repeated and the database is updated. If a server having
the desired QoS profile does exist, a PVC or SVC connection is
established between the first and second QoS negotiators and QoS
selectors, thereby ensuring end-to-end QoS for the user application and
allowing the application to exchange data with the server using the PVC
or SVC connection.