System and method for providing dynamic bandwidth on demand

• US 20100020694A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael B. Jones
• Original Assignee: Michael B. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Michael B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion

Abstract

A system and method to adjust dynamically network speed or bandwidth allocation. A network connection is established at some initial speed. The bandwidth usage through the connection is monitored, and when the connection speed becomes congested with data, the connection is dropped and a higher-speed connection is established.

Claims

1. A method of transferring data over a packet network of a type that guarantees the transfer of data at least a requested minimum data rate and that transfers data at greater than the requested rate on a non-guaranteed basis, the method comprising causing said packet network to provision two or more circuit connections having respective different data rates during the transfer of data in packets between first and second parties, said two or more circuit connections being provisioned as a function of the actual data flow between said parties and in such a way as to achieve a desired overall data flow rate.

2. The method of claim 2 wherein said causing said packet network to provision two or more circuit connections comprises causing said packet network to drop a first virtual circuit connection having a first bandwidth and to create a second virtual circuit connection having a second bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 3 wherein said causing said packet network to drop the first virtual circuit connection and to create the second virtual circuit connection comprises communicating respective call setup messages to said packet network.

4. Apparatus for causing data to be transferred over a packet network of a type that guarantees the transfer of data at least a requested minimum data rate and that transfers data at greater than the requested rate on a non-guaranteed basis, the apparatus being adapted to cause said packet network to provision two or more circuit connections having respective different data rates during the transfer of data in packets between first and second parties, said two or more circuit connections being provisioned as a function of the actual data flow between said parties and in such a way as to achieve a desired overall data flow rate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus causes said packet network to provision said two or more circuit connections in such a way as to cause said packet network to drop a first virtual circuit connection having a first bandwidth and to create a second virtual circuit connection having a second bandwidth.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said apparatus communicates call setup messages to said packet network in order to cause said packet network to drop the first virtual circuit connection and to create the second virtual circuit connection.