Bandwidth management of virtual networks on a shared network
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for equitably allocating bandwidth to virtual networks operating on a common physical network, such as a power-line network for homeowners sharing a single power-line distribution transformer. An ad-hoc master is selected from the virtual power-line network controllers. The master allocates bandwidth to streams based on their priority group categorization. By way of example, four priority groups (A-D) are described into which stream priority is classified, with the highest priority group for communicating isochronous streams, the lowest priority for transferring asynchronous streams and the other priority groups for communicating streams having an intermediate level of transmission priority. Within a given priority group all bandwidth requests are fulfilled for virtual networks requesting up to their fair share of the bandwidth within the priority group, and bandwidth available from virtual networks not utilizing their full share is allocated equally amongst those requesting more bandwidth.
-
Citations
49 Claims
-
1-29. -29. (canceled)
-
30. A method of allocating bandwidth among a plurality of virtual networks on the same shared network, comprising:
-
dividing the available bandwidth of the shared network into assignable units;
ordering streams, being transmitted over the shared network, into priority groups;
assigning units of bandwidth to said priority groups in response to the bandwidth requirements of said streams and the transmission priority of said priority group; and
assigning specific units of bandwidth to specific streams within each of said priority groups in response to an equitable sharing of bandwidth between said virtual networks sharing said shared network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of allocating bandwidth among a plurality of virtual networks on the same shared network, comprising:
-
dividing the available bandwidth of the shared network into assignable units, categorizing streams for transmission over said shared network into priority groups, assigning sections of bandwidth to said priority groups in response to the bandwidth requirements of said streams and the transmission priority of said priority group, and assigning units of bandwidth to specific streams within each of said priority groups. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of allocating bandwidth among a plurality of virtual networks on the same shared network, comprising:
-
connecting a server device to a virtual network on a shared network;
said server device configured to communicate with at least one other said server device;
designating one of said server devices to function as an active master server;
dynamically allocating bandwidth to each virtual network on said shared network to which said server devices are connected, and reallocating said bandwidth via the active master server if sufficient bandwidth on said shared network is not available to simultaneously support bandwidth requirements of said virtual networks. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
-
Specification