(
Common
Open
Policy
Service) An IETF standard for exchanging policy information in a network. COPS allows routers and switches to reserve bandwidth based on organization policy, which stipulates the priority for individual users and groups. The policy data are stored in servers known as "policy decision points" (PDPs). Routers and switches, known as "policy enforcement points" (PEPs), query the PDPs for the required information. COPS supports the RSVP protocol for reserving bandwidth. See
RSVP.