Allocating access across shared communication medium

• US 20090070454A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrell, James E. JR., Kolesnikov, Oleg M., McKinnon, Martin W. III, Ehrley, John Joseph, Sotack, Timothy Sean, Subramanian, Mani M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2861 Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 : Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 : Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 : Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 : using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 : Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 : Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 : Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 : Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 : in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 : Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 : Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 : using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 : Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 : triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/788 : Autonomous allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 : QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 : User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 : Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 : Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/828 : Allocation of resources per group of connections, e.g. per group of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 : based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 : Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 : Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 : Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users (86) includes the step of allocating network access for each user for a future time interval (102). Features include forecasting network access (1100) of the users in a future time interval, and prioritizing the users for allocating network access to the users. The network access allocations represent network access allowances available to the users during the future time interval, and further may represent network access usage. Classes of users can be allocated network access first (1114), and then each user allocated network access from the class allocation.

Claims

1. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between at least two competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) prior to a first time interval, determining for each user a respective first network access allowance representing a respective first maximum level of network access available to the user during the first time interval, but not necessarily representing the level of network access that will be utilized by the user during the first time interval;

(b) during the first time interval, providing network access to each user such that the respective first network access allowance for each user is not exceeded;

(c) prior to a second consecutive time interval, determining for each user a respective second network access allowance representing a respective second maximum level of network access available to the user during the second time interval, but not necessarily representing the level of network access that will be utilized by the user during the second time interval, at least one respective second network access allowance for a user differing from such user'"'"'s respective first network access allowance; and

(d) during the second time interval, providing network access to each user such that the respective second network access allowance for each user is not exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second time intervals are consecutive time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first time interval and the second time interval has a period of between one minute and sixty minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network access allowance for each respective user differs from the first network access allowance for such user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network access allowances for the users are determined by allocating network access to each user on a per user basis for the first time interval in accordance with a first selected allocation policy.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second network access allowances for the users are determined by allocating network access to each user on a per user basis for the second time interval in accordance with a second selected allocation policy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first allocation policy differs from the second allocation policy.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising requesting a minimum level of network access for the first time interval for a user, and wherein said allocating network access to such user for the first time interval comprises setting the level of network access allocated to such user to a level equal to or greater than the requested minimum level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said allocating network access to such user for the second time interval comprises setting the level of network access allocated to such user to a level less than the requested minimum level for the first time interval.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a past time interval.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a past time interval.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a past time interval.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a past time interval.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during a time interval.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising prioritizing the users for determining network access allowances.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a past time interval, with a user with lesser throughput receiving priority over a user with greater throughput.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a past time interval, with a user with greater data loss having priority over a user with lesser data loss.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss of the user during a time interval.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on service level agreements (SLAs) of the users regarding the provision of network access.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for the users with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access were requested for such users.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs provide respective fees for network access usage, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of allocating network access comprises setting the respective levels of network access equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

34. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of forecasting network access usage by each user during a future time interval based on said step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said step of forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said step of forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to said monitored network access usages of the users.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the first network access allowances for the users are determined by allocating network access to each user on a per user basis for the first time interval in accordance with a first selected allocation policy.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises setting the respective levels of network access of the users proportional to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises setting respective user levels of network access equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises setting respective user levels of network access equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

44. A method of providing during two consecutive time intervals network access across a shared communications medium between two competing users, comprising the step of varying between the two time intervals a respective network access allowance for each user, each respective network access allowance representing a maximum level of network access available to the respective user during a particular time interval, but not necessarily representing the level of network access that is utilized by the user during the particular time interval.

45. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium in a downstream direction towards competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval; and

(b) based on said monitored network access usage, allocating network access to each user on a per user basis for a future time interval.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein each network access allocation represents a bandwidth allowance of a respective user during the future time interval.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein each network access allocation represents bandwidth utilized by each user during the future time interval.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring bandwidth that is consumed by each user in a downstream direction at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of logical data units transmitted to each user during a time interval.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted to each user during a time interval.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

55. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

56. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access equally to the users.

57. The method of claim 45, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

60. The method of claim 45, further comprising prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a time interval, with a user with lesser throughput receiving priority over a user with greater throughput.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a time interval, with a user with greater data loss having priority over a user with lesser data loss.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss of the user during a time interval.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on service level agreements (SLAs) of the users regarding the provision of network access.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for the users with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access were requested for such users.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs provide respective fees for network access usage, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

73. The method of claim 67, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to such users equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

74. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of forecasting network access usage by each user during the future time interval based on said step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said step of forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein said step of forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to said monitored network access usages of the users.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to users proportional to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

78. The method of claim 74, further comprising the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

82. The method of claim 78, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

83. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval;

(b) forecasting network access usage by each user during a future time interval based on said monitored network access usage by each user; and

(c) based on said forecasted network access usage, allocating network access to each user for the future time interval.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein said step of forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein said step of forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to said monitored network access usages of the users.

86. The method of claim 83, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

87. The method of claim 83, further comprising the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein said prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

89. The method of claim 87, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

90. The method of claim 87, wherein said prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

91. The method of claim 87, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a time interval, with a user with lesser throughput rate receiving priority over a user with greater throughput rate.

92. The method of claim 87, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a time interval, with a user with greater data loss rate having priority over a user with lesser data loss rate.

93. The method of claim 87, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

94. The method of claim 87, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss of the user during a time interval.

95. The method of claim 87, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

96. The method of claim 87, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on service level agreements (SLAs) of the users regarding the provision of network access.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for the users with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access would have been utilized for such users.

100. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs provide a respective fee for network access usage by users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

101. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

102. The method of claim 96, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to such users equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

103. The method of claim 87, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

104. The method of claim 87, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

105. The method of claim 83, wherein each network access allocation represents a bandwidth allowance of a respective user during the future time interval.

106. The method of claim 83, wherein each network access allocation represents bandwidth utilized by each user during the future time interval.

107. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium of a Cable Network between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user for a time interval;

(b) based on said monitoring, forecasting the number of logical data units (LDUs) of each user that will be transmitted over a future time interval; and

(c) based on said forecasting, allocating network access available to each user for the future time interval.

108. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium of a Cable Network between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage requested by each user for a time interval;

(b) based on said monitoring, forecasting the number of logical data units (LDUs) that will be requested by each user over a future time interval; and

(c) based on said forecasting, allocating network access available to each user for the future time interval.

109. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval;

(b) based on said monitoring, forecasting network access usage by each user over a future time interval;

(c) prioritizing users based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage in increasing order, whereby a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receives a higher priority than a user with a greater forecasted network access usage; and

(d) allocating network access available to each user during the future time interval in decreasing order of user priority, each user'"'"'s allocation of network access being equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to availability.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of allocating further comprises allocating any surplus network access remaining equally to the users.

111. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of allocating further comprises allocating in decreasing user priority any surplus network access to the users proportionally to the user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

112. The method of claim 109, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

113. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in an upstream direction at time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

114. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in a downstream direction at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

115. The method of claim 109, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

116. The method of claim 109, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

117. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

118. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

119. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

120. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

121. The method of claim 109, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

122. The method of claim 109, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

125. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval;

(b) based on said monitoring, forecasting network access usage by each user over a future time interval; and

(c) allocating network access available to each user during the future time interval, each user'"'"'s allocation of network access being equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage multiplied by a ratio of the total available network access to the total forecasted network access usage of all the users, and subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to availability.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

127. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in an upstream direction at time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

128. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in a downstream direction at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

129. The method of claim 125, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

130. The method of claim 125, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

131. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring network access includes collecting data representative of the logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

132. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

133. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

134. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

135. The method of claim 125, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

136. The method of claim 125, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

137. The method of claim 126, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

138. The method of claim 126, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

139. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) charging each user a respective fee for network access usage;

(b) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval;

(c) based on said monitoring, forecasting network access usage by each user over a future time interval;

(d) prioritizing users based on each user'"'"'s fee in decreasing order, whereby a user having a greater fee receives a higher priority than a user having a lesser fee; and

(e) allocating network access available to each user during the future time interval in decreasing order of user priority, each user'"'"'s allocation of network access being equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to availability.

140. The method of claim 139, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

141. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in an upstream direction at time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

142. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in a downstream direction at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

143. The method of claim 139, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

144. The method of claim 139, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

145. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring network access includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

146. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

147. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

148. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

149. The method of claim 139, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

150. The method of claim 139, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

151. The method of claim 150, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

152. The method of claim 150, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

153. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users, comprising the steps of:

(a) applying respective credits to users for network access shortfalls below respective levels of network access specified to the users;

(b) monitoring network access usage by each user during a past time interval;

(c) based on said monitoring, forecasting network access usage by each user over a future time interval;

(d) prioritizing users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, whereby a user having a greater credit receives a higher priority than a user having a lesser credit; and

(e) allocating network access available to each user during the future time interval in decreasing order of user priority, each user'"'"'s allocation of network access being equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage subject to a respective, predetermined maximum specified value and subject to availability.

154. The method of claim 153, wherein any additional network access remaining after said allocation is earmarked for the users such that each user'"'"'s allocation equals the user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed level of network access and subject to availability.

155. The method of claim 154, wherein any surplus network access remaining after said distribution is further earmarked in equal amounts for the users, subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed level of network access.

156. The method of claim 154, further comprising allocating to the users network access only in an amount equal to the forecasted network access usage multiplied by the ratio of total network access available for allocation to the total forecasted network access usage of the users, but only when the total forecasted network access usage of the users exceeds the total network access available for allocation.

157. The method of claim 153, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

158. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access usage by the users in an upstream direction at time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

159. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring network access by the users in a downstream direction at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

160. The method of claim 153, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

161. The method of claim 153, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

162. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

163. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

164. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of each user that are dropped during a time interval.

165. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of each user that are dropped during a time interval.

166. The method of claim 153, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of each user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

167. The method of claim 153, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

168. The method of claim 167, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

169. The method of claim 167, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

170. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users pursuant to service level agreements (SLAs) of the users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user during a time interval;

(b) comparing said monitored network access usage by each user with a predetermined threshold value; and

(c) soliciting a user to modify the user'"'"'s SLA if the user'"'"'s monitored network access usage varies from the predetermined value by a predetermined tolerance.

171. The method of claim 170, wherein the threshold value represents a respective maximum level of network access for each user.

172. The method of claim 170, wherein the threshold value represents a respective maximum burstable level of network access with target probability for each user.

173. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via email.

174. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via instant messaging.

175. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via redirection of a web browser of the user to a solicitation web page.

176. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via generation and mailing of literature.

177. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via a telephonic communication.

178. The method of claim 170, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a level of network access to the user on a permanent basis.

179. The method of claim 170, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a level of network access to the user with a maximum burstable level of network access with target probability.

180. The method of claim 170, further comprising charging the user a fee for the modification of the SLA.

181. The method of claim 170, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a level of network access to the user on a temporary basis.

182. The method of claim 170, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

183. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring the bandwidth that is consumed by each user in an upstream direction of communication across the shared communications medium at time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

184. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring the bandwidth that is consumed by each user in a downstream direction of communication across the shared communications medium at time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

185. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring network access includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

186. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

187. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

188. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

189. The method of claim 170, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

190. The method of claim 170, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network.

191. The method of claim 190, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

192. The method of claim 190, wherein the Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

193. The method of claim 170, further comprising, based on said monitored network access usage, allocating network access to each user for a future time interval.

194. The method of claim 193, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access equally to the users.

195. The method of claim 193, further comprising prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

196. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for the users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for the users with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

197. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

198. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access were requested for such users.

199. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs provide a respective fee for network access usage by users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

200. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

201. The method of claim 195, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on the SLAs of the users, wherein the SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to such users equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

202. The method of claim 195, wherein said prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

203. The method of claim 202, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a time interval, with a user with lesser throughput rate receiving priority over a user with greater throughput rate.

204. The method of claim 202, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a time interval, with a user with greater data loss rate having priority over a user with lesser data loss rate.

205. The method of claim 202, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

206. The method of claim 202, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss during a time interval.

207. The method of claim 202, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

208. The method of claim 193, further comprising the step of forecasting network access usage by each user during the future time interval based on said step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

209. The method of claim 208, wherein said step of forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

210. The method of claim 208, wherein said step of forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate signal exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to said monitored network access usages of the users.

211. The method of claim 208, wherein said step of allocating comprises allocating network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

212. The method of claim 208, further comprising the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

213. The method of claim 212, wherein said prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

214. The method of claim 212, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

215. The method of claim 212, wherein said step of allocating comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

216. The method of claim 212, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

217. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users pursuant to service level agreements (SLAs) of the users, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring network access usage by each user for respective predetermined past time intervals;

(b) identifying a recurrent period of high network access usage of a user based on said monitoring; and

(c) soliciting a user to modify the user'"'"'s SLA to guarantee a minimum level of network access during an anticipated future recurrent period of high network access usage.

218. The method of claim 217, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via email.

219. The method of claim 217, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via instant messaging.

220. The method of claim 217, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via redirection of a web browser of the user to a solicitation web page.

221. The method of claim 217, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via generation and mailing of literature.

222. The method of claim 217, wherein said step of soliciting a user comprises contacting the user via a telephonic communication.

223. The method of claim 217, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a minimum level of network access to the user for all future recurrent periods of high network access usage.

224. The method of claim 217, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a minimum level of network access to the user for a predetermined number of future recurrent periods of high network access usage.

225. The method of claim 217, wherein the modification of the user'"'"'s SLA includes guaranteeing a minimum level of network access to the user with a maximum burstable level of network access with target probability for the future period of high network access usage.

226. The method of claim 217, wherein the recurrent time period of high network access usage comprises a particular time of day.

227. The method of claim 217, further comprising charging the user a fee for modification of the user'"'"'s SLA.

228. A method of providing network access across a DOCSIS 1.0 compliant cable network of a data-over-cable (DOC) network to at least two users competing for bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining for each user a respective first bandwidth allowance for a first future time interval;

(b) generating a first set of cable modem configuration files, each of which limits bandwidth consumption by a cable modem (CM) of a respective user to that user'"'"'s first bandwidth allowance;

(c) sending the configuration files to a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) Server of the DOC Network;

(d) sending a command either to each user'"'"'s CM or to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to which each user'"'"'s CM is connected to cause each CM to acquire its new respective configuration file of the first set for the first time interval;

(e) determining for each user a respective second bandwidth allowance for a second future time interval, a second bandwidth allowance of at least one of the users differing from that user'"'"'s first bandwidth allowance; and

(f) for each user having a second bandwidth allowance different from that user'"'"'s first bandwidth allowance,

(i) generating a second cable modem configuration file which limits bandwidth consumption of that user'"'"'s CM to a value representative of that user'"'"'s second bandwidth allowance;

(ii) sending the second configuration file for that user to the TFTP Server of the DOC Network; and

(iii) sending a command either to that user'"'"'s CM or to the CMTS to which that user'"'"'s CM is connected to cause the CM to acquire the second configuration file for that user for the second time interval.

229. The method of claim 228, further comprising the steps of monitoring bandwidth of each user for a time interval and, based on said monitored bandwidth, determining each user'"'"'s second bandwidth allowance.

230. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of determining each user'"'"'s second bandwidth allowance includes prioritizing each user and allocating bandwidth to each user according to such priority.

231. The method of claim 230, wherein said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored bandwidth with respective values specified by service level agreements (SLAs) of the users.

232. The method of claim 230, wherein said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored bandwidth of each user with an established minimum quality of service value.

233. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of determining each user'"'"'s second bandwidth allowance includes forecasting each user'"'"'s bandwidth for the second future time interval.

234. The method of claim 233, wherein said step of determining each user'"'"'s bandwidth allowance includes prioritizing the users for allocation of bandwidth based on said forecasting.

235. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring the bandwidth that is consumed by each CM in the upstream direction during time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

236. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring the bandwidth that is requested by each CM in the upstream direction during time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

237. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring the bandwidth that is consumed by each CM in the downstream direction during time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

238. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

239. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

240. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

241. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

242. The method of claim 229, wherein said step of monitoring includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in the upstream direction during a time interval.

243. The method of claim 228, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval are consecutive time intervals.

244. The method of claim 228, wherein each of the first time interval and the second time interval has a period of one to sixty minutes.

245. The method of claim 228, wherein for each user, the first bandwidth allowance of that user differs from the second bandwidth allowance of that user.

246. The method of claim 228, wherein the first bandwidth allowance for each user differs from the first bandwidth allowance of all other users.

247. The method of claim 228, wherein the second bandwidth allowance for each user differs from the second bandwidth allowance of all other users.

248. The method of claim 228, wherein the first bandwidth allowance of each user is determined by allocating bandwidth to each user on a per user basis for the first time interval in accordance with a first selected allocation policy.

249. The method of claim 248, wherein the second bandwidth allowance of each user is determined by allocating bandwidth to each user on a per user basis for the second time interval in accordance with a second selected allocation policy.

250. The method of claim 249, wherein the first and second allocation policies differ.

251. The method of claim 249, wherein the first and second allocation policies are the same.

252. A method of continuously providing network access across a cable network of a data-over-cable (DOC) network to at least two users competing for bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining for each user during present time intervals bandwidth allowances of such user for respective future time intervals, each bandwidth allowance of such user for a future time interval representing a maximum level of bandwidth consumption for such user during the future time interval, but not necessarily representing the amount of bandwidth that will be consumed by such user during such future time interval, the bandwidth allowances of each user varying as between time intervals; and

(b) for each user, limiting during each respective future time interval bandwidth consumption of that user'"'"'s cable modem (CM) to that user'"'"'s respective bandwidth allowance for such time interval by implementing a new cable modem configuration file in the CM.

253. The method of claim 252, wherein the present and future time intervals have a uniform period of one minute to sixty minutes.

254. The method of claim 252, wherein each user'"'"'s bandwidth allowance for each future time interval is determined by allocating bandwidth to the users on a per user basis for such future time interval in accordance with a selected allocation.

255. A Carrier Network for providing communication between multiple users and a Service Provider, comprising:

(a) computer network equipment defining an Intermediate Network and a shared communications medium, said Intermediate Network and said shared communications medium extending between the users and the Service Provider for conveying data therebetween, said shared communications medium joining the users with said Intermediate Network such that data of each user is conveyed over said shared communications medium to and from the Intermediate Network whereby the users compete for network access; and

(b) software for managing network access of the users across said shared communications medium, said software including computer-executable instructions that performs the steps of;

(i) monitoring the network access usage by each user for a time interval; and

(ii) based on the monitored network access usage, setting a network access allowance for each user representing a level of network access made available for utilization by the user during a future time interval, but not necessarily representing the level of network access that will be utilized by such user during the future time interval.

256. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein said network equipment futher defines a Cable Network and said shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable of said Cable Network.

257. The Carrier Network of claim 256, wherein said software comprises software modules distributed within computer readable media of said network equipment.

258. The Carrier Network of claim 256, wherein said software comprises software modules stored in a computer readable medium of a hardware component.

259. The Carrier Network of claim 258, wherein said hardware component is physically located with said network equipment.

260. The Carrier Network of claim 259, wherein said Carrier Network comprises a Data-Over-Cable (DOC) Network and said hardware component is located within a regional data center of said DOC Network.

261. The Carrier Network of claim 259, wherein said Carrier Network comprises a Data-Over-Cable (DOC) Network and said hardware component is located within a headend of said DOC Network.

262. The Carrier Network of claim 258, wherein said hardware component is physically located remotely from said network equipment.

263. The Carrier Network of claim 262, wherein said hardware component is directly connected with said network equipment for communication therebetween.

264. The Carrier Network of claim 262, wherein said hardware component is indirectly connected with said network equipment through the Internet for communication therebetween.

265. The Carrier Network of claim 256, wherein said software modules include:

(i) a first software component that manages a database for storage and retrieval of data;

(ii) a second software component that collects data representative of network access usage from said network equipment, and that sends data representative of network access usage to said first component for storage thereof; and

(iii) a third component that retrieves data representative of network access usage stored in said first component and sets, based at least partially thereon, network access allowances for the users for the future time interval.

266. The Carrier Network of claim 265, further includes a fourth component having a graphical user interface for sending data to said first component for storage and for retrieval of data stored by said first component.

267. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

268. The Carrier Network of claim 267, wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring bandwidth that is consumed by each user in an upstream direction across said shared communications medium in time intervals of one minute to fifteen minutes.

269. The Carrier Network of claim 267, wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring bandwidth that is consumed by each user in the downstream direction across said shared communications medium in time intervals of fifteen minutes to sixty minutes.

270. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval are equal in length.

271. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the time interval for which network access usage is monitored and the future time interval each is approximately one minute to sixty minutes in length.

272. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

273. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during a time interval.

274. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

275. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of bytes and data packets of the user that are dropped during a time interval.

276. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein the step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction across said shared communications medium during a time interval.

277. The Carrier Network of claim 255, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access equally to the users and setting the network access allowance for each user equal to that user'"'"'s allocated network access.

278. The Carrier Network of claim 277, wherein said software further includes computer-executable instructions that perform the additional step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

279. The Carrier Network of claim 278, wherein the prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

280. The Carrier Network of claim 279, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a time interval, with a user with lesser throughput rate receiving priority over a user with greater throughput rate.

281. The Carrier Network of claim 279, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a time interval, with a user with greater data loss rate having priority over a user with lesser data loss rate.

282. The Carrier Network of claim 279, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

283. The Carrier Network of claim 279, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss of the user during a time interval.

284. The Carrier Network of claim 279, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

285. The Carrier Network of claim 278, wherein prioritizing is based on service level agreements (SLAs) of the users regarding the provision of network access.

286. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and prioritizing includes comparing each user'"'"'s monitored network access usage with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when said respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

287. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and prioritizing includes comparing the monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when the monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

288. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and prioritizing includes comparing the monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access were requested for such users.

289. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs provide respective fees for network access usage, and prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

290. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

291. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and allocating network access comprises allocating network access to such users equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

292. The Carrier Network of claim 285, wherein said software further includes computer-executable instructions that perform the step of forecasting network access usage by each user during the future time interval based on the monitoring of network access usage by each user.

293. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

294. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to the monitored network access usages of the users.

295. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access to users proportional to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

296. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access, and wherein said software further includes computer-executable instructions that perform the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

297. The Carrier Network of claim 296, wherein prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

298. The Carrier Network of claim 296, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

299. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

300. The Carrier Network of claim 292, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

301. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that manage network access across a shared communications medium between competing users of a Carrier Network, said instructions performing the steps of:

(a) monitoring the network access usage by each user for a time interval; and

(b) setting a network access allowance for each user representing a level of network access made available for utilization by the user during a future time interval, but not necessarily representing the level of network access that will be utilized by such user during the future time interval.

302. The computer-readable medium of claim 301, wherein said step of setting a network access allowance for each user comprises allocating network access, and wherein said software further includes computer-executable instructions performing the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

303. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein the prioritizing is based on fairness considerations.

304. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein the users are prioritized based on user throughput during a time interval, with a user with lesser throughput rate receiving priority over a user with greater throughput rate.

305. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein the users are prioritized based on data loss for each user during a time interval, with a user with greater data loss rate having priority over a user with lesser data loss rate.

306. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein the users are prioritized based on network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user with lesser network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user with greater network access usage for the particular time of day.

307. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein the users are prioritized based on both user throughput and data loss of the user during a time interval.

308. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein users are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

309. The computer-readable medium of claim 302, wherein prioritizing is based on service level agreements (SLAs) of the users regarding the provision of network access.

310. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and prioritizing includes comparing the monitored network access usages for the users with the specified respective minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when the respective monitored network access usage for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

311. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of network access for users, and prioritizing includes comparing the monitored network access usages for such users during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of network access, and awarding priority to a user when the monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user falls below the user'"'"'s specified respective TOD minimum level of network access.

312. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for users, and prioritizing includes comparing the monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum levels of network access for such users and with the respective maximum burstable levels of network access for such users, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of network access were obtained for such users out of all instances the respective maximum levels of network access were requested for such users.

313. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs provide a respective fee for network access usage, and prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective fee in decreasing order, with a user with a higher fee receiving priority over a user with a lesser fee.

314. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs provide respective credits for levels of network access below respective guaranteed levels for users, and prioritizing comprises sorting such users based on each user'"'"'s respective credit in decreasing order, with a user with a higher credit receiving priority over a user with a lower credit.

315. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, wherein SLAs specify respective minimum levels of network access for users, and allocating network access comprises allocating network access to such users equal to each user'"'"'s specified respective minimum level of network access.

316. The computer-readable medium of claim 309, further comprising computer-executable instructions performing the step of forecasting network access usage by each user during the future time interval based the monitoring of network access usage by each user.

317. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, wherein forecasting comprises predicting future network access usage of each user based upon monitored past network access usage patterns of each user.

318. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, wherein forecasting comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to the monitored network access usages of the users.

319. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, wherein allocating network access comprises allocating network access to users proportional to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

320. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, further comprising computer-executable instructions performing the step of prioritizing the users for allocating network access.

321. The computer-readable medium of claim 320, wherein prioritizing is based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

322. The computer-readable medium of claim 320, wherein said users are prioritized in increasing order of each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, with a user with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user with a greater forecasted network access usage.

323. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, wherein allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access equally to the users.

324. The computer-readable medium of claim 316, wherein allocating network access comprises allocating network access to the users equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the users proportionally based on each user'"'"'s forecasted network access usage.

325. A computerized method of allocating among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users; and

(d) allocating bandwidth to each user sequentially in decreasing order of user priority.

326. The computerized method of claim 325, wherein the bandwidth that is monitored is the bandwidth requested for each user.

327. The computerized method of claim 325, wherein the bandwidth that is monitored is the bandwidth consumption of each user.

328. The computerized method of claim 327, wherein the bandwidth that is forecasted is the bandwidth consumption of each user.

329. The computerized method of claim 328, wherein users are prioritized based on each user'"'"'s forecasted future bandwidth consumption in increasing order, whereby a user with a lesser forecasted bandwidth consumption receives a higher priority than a user with a greater forecasted bandwidth consumption.

330. The computerized method of claim 328, wherein each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval is set to equal each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth consumption subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to bandwidth availability

331. The computerized method of claim 330, further comprising distributing equally to the users any unallocated bandwidth.

332. The computerized method of claim 330, further comprising distributing to the users any unallocated bandwidth remaining in amounts proportional to the users'"'"' forecasted bandwidth consumptions.

333. The computerized method of claim 330, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth consumption comprise the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

334. The computerized method of claim 330, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth consumption comprise data representative of the number of bytes transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

335. The computerized method of claim 330, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth consumption comprise data representative of the number of data packets transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

336. A computerized method of allocating among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth multiplied by a ratio of the total bandwidth available to the users'"'"' total forecasted bandwidth, and subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to bandwidth availability.

337. The computerized method of claim 336, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

338. The computerized method of claim 336, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

339. The computerized method of claim 336, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during the past time interval.

340. A computerized method of allocating among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval, and data representative of respective fees that are charged to the users for bandwidth;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users based on the respective fee charged to each user in decreasing order, whereby a user with a higher fee receives a higher priority than a user with a lesser fee; and

(d) sequentially for each user in decreasing order of user priority, setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to availability.

341. The computerized method of claim 340, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

342. The computerized method of claim 340, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

343. The computerized method of claim 340, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during the past time interval.

344. A computerized method of allocating among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval, and data representative of respective credits that are applied to accounts of the users for bandwidth shortfalls below respective bandwidth levels specified to the users;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth by each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users based on the respective credit in decreasing order, whereby a user with a higher credit receives a higher priority than a user with a lesser credit; and

(d) sequentially for each user in decreasing order of user priority, setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth subject to a respective, predetermined maximum specified value and subject to availability.

345. The computerized method of claim 344, wherein any unallocated bandwidth remaining is distributed to the users sequentially in decreasing user priority such that each user'"'"'s allocation equals the user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth, subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed value of bandwidth and subject to availability.

346. The computerized method of claim 344, wherein any unallocated bandwidth remaining is distributed equally to the users subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed value of bandwidth.

347. The computerized method of claim 344, further comprising setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval only in an amount equal to the forecasted bandwidth of the user multiplied by the ratio of total bandwidth available for allocation to the total forecasted bandwidth of the users, but only when the total forecasted bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available for allocation.

348. The computerized method of claim 344, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth comprise the number of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

349. The computerized method of claim 344, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth consumption comprise data representative of the number of bytes and data packets transmitted from and to each user during the past time interval.

350. The computerized method of claim 344, wherein the data representative of past bandwidth consumption comprise data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during the past time interval.

351. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that allocates among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, said instructions performing the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users based on each user'"'"'s forecasted future bandwidth in increasing order, whereby a user with a lesser forecasted bandwidth receives a higher priority than a user with a greater forecasted bandwidth; and

(d) sequentially for each user in decreasing order of user priority, setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to bandwidth availability.

352. The computer-readable medium of claim 351, wherein said instructions further perform the step of distributing equally to the users any unallocated bandwidth.

353. The computer-readable medium of claim 351, wherein said instructions further perform the step of distributing to the users any unallocated bandwidth remaining in amounts proportional to the users'"'"' forecasted bandwidths.

354. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that allocates among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, said instructions performing the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth multiplied by a ratio of the total bandwidth available to the users'"'"' total forecasted bandwidth, and subject to a respective, predetermined maximum value and subject to bandwidth availability.

355. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that allocates among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, said instructions performing the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth by each user during a time interval, and data representative of respective fees that are charged to the users for bandwidth;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth by each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users based on the respective fee in decreasing order, whereby a user with a higher fee receives a higher priority than a user with a lesser fee; and

(d) sequentially for each user in decreasing order of user priority, setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth subject to a respective, predetermined maximum specified value and subject to availability.

356. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that allocates among a plurality of users bandwidth for conveying information across a shared communications medium, said instructions performing the steps of:

(a) receiving data representative of past bandwidth of each user during a time interval, and data representative of respective credits that are applied to accounts of the users for bandwidth shortfalls below respective levels of network access specified to the users;

(b) forecasting future bandwidth of each user over a future time interval based on the data representative of the past bandwidth;

(c) prioritizing users based on the respective credit in decreasing order, whereby a user with a higher credit receives a higher priority than a user with a lesser credit; and

(d) sequentially for each user in decreasing order of user priority, setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval equal to each user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth subject to a respective, predetermined maximum specified value and subject to availability.

357. The computer-readable medium of claim 356, wherein said instructions further perform the step of distributing any unallocated bandwidth to the users sequentially in decreasing user priority such that each user'"'"'s allocation equals the user'"'"'s forecasted bandwidth, subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed value of bandwidth and subject to availability.

358. The computer-readable medium of claim 356, wherein said instructions further perform the step of distributing any unallocated bandwidth equally to the users subject to a respective, predetermined maximum allowed value of bandwidth.

359. The computer-readable medium of claim 356, wherein said instructions further perform the step of setting each user'"'"'s allocation of bandwidth for the future time interval only in an amount equal to the forecasted bandwidth of the user multiplied by the ratio of total bandwidth available for allocation to the total forecasted bandwidth of the users, but only when the total forecasted bandwidth exceeds the total bandwidth available for allocation.

360. A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between at least four competing users, with at least a first pair of users being grouped within a first class and at least a second pair of different users being grouped within a second class, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining class and user allowances of network access for a first time interval by allocating network access to each user class for a first future time interval and, for each user class, allocating network access to each user within the class for the first time interval,

(b) providing network access to each user during the first time interval such that no user receives more network access than that user'"'"'s allowance and no class receives more collective network access than that class'"'"' network allowance;

(c) determining class and user allowances of network access for a second time interval by allocating network access to each user class for a second future time interval succeeding the first time interval and, for each user class, allocating network access to each user for the second time interval, the allocated network access for the second time interval for at least one user differing from that user'"'"'s allocated network access for the first time interval; and

(d) providing network access to each user during the second time interval such that no user receives more network access than that user'"'"'s allowance and no class receives more collective network access than that class'"'"' allowance.

361. The method of claim 360, wherein for at least one class the allocated network access for the first time interval for each user differs from the allocated network access for the second time interval for that user.

362. The method of claim 360, wherein for each class the allocated network access for the first time interval for each user differs from the allocated network access for the second time interval for that user.

363. The method of claim 360, wherein the collective network access allocated to each class for the first time interval differs from the collective network access allocated to each class for the second time interval.

364. The method of claim 360, further comprising requesting a minimum level of network access for a user for utilization during the first future time interval, and wherein said allocating network access to such user for the first future time interval comprises setting the level of network access allocated to such user to an amount equal to or greater than the requested minimum level.

365. The method of claim 364, wherein said allocating network access to such user for the second future time interval comprises setting the level of network access allocated to such user to an amount less than the requested minimum level for the first time interval.

366. The method of claim 360, wherein each of the first future time interval and the second future time interval has a period of between one minute and sixty minutes.

367. The method of claim 360, wherein network access comprises bandwidth across the shared communications medium for consumption by each user in conveying data of the user.

368. The method of claim 360, further comprising the step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

369. The method of claim 368, further comprising the step of tracking network access usage for each user class.

370. The method of claim 368, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage by each user includes collecting data representative of logical data units transmitted from and to each user during a past time interval.

371. The method of claim 368, further comprising tracking logical data units transmitted from and to each user class during a past time interval.

372. The method of claim 368, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are dropped during a past time interval.

373. The method of claim 368, further comprising tracking the number of logical data units that are dropped for each user class during a past time interval.

374. The method of claim 368, wherein said step of monitoring network access usage includes collecting data representative of the number of logical data units of the user that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during a past time interval.

375. The method of claim 368, further comprising tracking the number of logical data units of each user class that are requested to be transmitted in an upstream direction during a past time interval.

376. The method of claim 360, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Cable Network and the shared communications medium comprises a coaxial cable.

377. The method of claim 360, wherein the shared communications medium is part of a Shared Access Carrier Network comprises a wireless network.

378. The method of claim 360, further comprising prioritizing the user classes for allocating network access.

379. The method of claim 378, further comprising prioritizing the users for allocating, network access.

380. The method of claim 378, wherein said prioritizing of the user classes is based on fairness considerations.

381. The method of claim 380, wherein the user classes are prioritized based on collective user throughput during a past time interval, with a user class with lesser collective user throughput receiving priority over a user class with greater collective user throughput.

382. The method of claim 380, wherein the user classes are prioritized based on collective data loss for each user class during a past time interval, with a user class with greater collective data loss having priority over a user class with lesser collective data loss.

383. The method of claim 380, wherein the user classes are prioritized based on collective network access usage for a particular time of day, with a user class with lesser collective network access usage for the particular time of day receiving priority over a user class with greater collective network access usage for the particular time of day.

384. The method of claim 380, wherein the user classes are prioritized based on both collective user throughput for the class and collective data loss of the users for the class during a time interval.

385. The method of claim 380, wherein user classes are prioritized based on an established minimum quality of service (QoS) standard.

386. The method of claim 378, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on class service level agreements (CSLAs) for at least two user classes regarding the provision of network access to each respective class.

387. The method of claim 386, further comprising the step of tracking network access usage by each user class.

388. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA specifies a respective minimum level of collective network access for the respective users therein, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for the user classes with the specified respective minimum levels of collective network access therefor, and awarding priority to a user class when said monitored network access usage for such user class falls below the specified respective minimum level of collective network access for such class.

389. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA specifies a respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum level of collective network access for the respective users therein, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such user classes during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of collective network access, and awarding priority to a user class when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such user class falls below the specified respective TOD minimum level of collective network access of such user class.

390. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA specifies a respective minimum level of collective network access up to a maximum burstable level with target probability for the respective users therein, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing for each user class said monitored network access usage both with the respective minimum level of collective network access and with the respective maximum burstable level of collective network access, and comparing the instances the respective maximum level of network access were obtained out of all instances the respective maximum level of network access could have been utilized.

391. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA provides a respective fee for collective network access usage, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such user classes based on each class'"'"' respective fee in decreasing order, with a user class with a higher fee receiving priority over a user class with a lesser fee.

392. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA provides a respective credit for a level of collective network access falling below a respective guaranteed level for the user class, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such user classes based on each class'"'"' respective credit in decreasing order, with a user class with a higher credit receiving priority over a user class with a lower credit.

393. The method of claim 387, wherein each CSLA specifies a respective minimum level of collective network access for the user class, and said step of allocating network access comprises setting the respective level of collective network access of the user class equal to the class'"'"' specified respective minimum level of collective network access.

394. The method of claim 368, further comprising the step of forecasting collective network access usage by each user class during a future time interval based on said step of monitoring network access usage by each user.

395. The method of claim 394, wherein said step of forecasting comprises summing within each class a forecasted network access usage of each user.

396. The method of claim 394, wherein said step of forecasting network access usage of each user comprises applying an adaptive-response-rate single exponential smoothing function and a Holt-Winters'"'"' seasonal exponential smoothing function to said monitored network access usages of each user.

397. The method of claim 395, wherein said step of allocating network access to each user class comprises setting the respective levels of network access of the user classes proportional to each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage.

398. The method of claim 395, further comprising the step of prioritizing the user classes for allocating network access.

399. The method of claim 398, wherein said prioritizing is based on each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage.

400. The method of claim 398, wherein said user classes are prioritized in increasing order of each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage, with a user class with a lesser forecasted network access usage receiving priority over a user class with a greater forecasted network access usage.

401. The method of claim 398, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises setting the respective levels of network access equal to each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the user classes proportional to the number of users within each class.

402. The method of claim 398, wherein said step of allocating network access comprises setting the respective levels of network access equal to each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage, and then allocating any remaining network access to the user classes proportionally based on each class'"'"' forecasted network access usage.

403. The method of claim 378, wherein said step of prioritizing is based on class service level agreements (CSLAs) regarding the provision of collective network access.

404. The method of claim 403, further comprising the step of monitoring collective network access usage of each class.

405. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs specify respective minimum levels of collective network access for classes, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such classes with the specified respective minimum levels of collective network access, and awarding priority to a class when said respective monitored network access usage for such class falls below the class'"'"' specified respective minimum level of collective network access.

406. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs specify respective time-of-day (TOD) minimum levels of collective network access for classes, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usages for such classes during the specified respective TOD with the specified respective TOD minimum levels of collective network access, and awarding priority to a class when said monitored network access usage during the specified respective TOD for such class falls below the class'"'"' specified respective TOD minimum level of collective network access.

407. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs specify respective minimum levels of collective network access up to a maximum burstable levels with target probability for classes, and said step of prioritizing includes comparing said monitored network access usage for each such class both with the respective minimum levels of collective network access and with the respective maximum burstable levels of collective network access, and comparing the instances the respective maximum levels of collective network access were obtained for each such class out of all instances the respective maximum levels of collective network access could have been utilized.

408. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs provide respective fees for collective network access usage of classes, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such classes based on each class'"'"' respective fee in decreasing order, with a class with a higher fee receiving priority over a class with a lower fee.

409. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs provide respective credits for levels of collective network access below respective guaranteed levels for classes, and said step of prioritizing comprises sorting such classes based on each class'"'"' respective credit in decreasing order, with a class with a higher credit receiving priority over a class with a lower credit.

410. The method of claim 404, wherein CSLAs specify respective minimum levels of collective network access for classes, and said step of allocating network access comprises setting the allocations of collective network access for such classes equal to each class'"'"' specified respective minimum level of collective network access