Managing bandwidth over a computer network having a management computer that allocates bandwidth to client computers upon request
First Claim
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1. A computer system, comprising:
- (a) a management computer; and
(b) two or more client computers, wherein;
the management computer and the client computers are electrically interconnected over a packet-switched computer network;
a first client computer requests an allocation of a specific amount of transmission bandwidth from the management computer for transmissions over the network with a second client computer;
the management computer determines whether to grant permission to the first client computer and if so the management computer allocates transmission bandwidth for the first client computer, wherein the allocated transmission bandwidth is less than the requested transmission bandwidth;
the management computer informs the first client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth; and
the first client computer initiates transmissions over the network with the second client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth.
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Abstract
Management computers of a packet-switched computer network allocate transmission bandwidth for transmissions such as those for conferences between client computers of the network. Callers and callees request bandwidth from their associated managers for transmissions. Managers monitor and allocate bandwidth taking into account whether the transmissions are between local clients or local and external clients. Managers maintain records of active transmissions, but need not maintain lists of client computers with which the managers are associated.
92 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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(a) a management computer; and (b) two or more client computers, wherein; the management computer and the client computers are electrically interconnected over a packet-switched computer network; a first client computer requests an allocation of a specific amount of transmission bandwidth from the management computer for transmissions over the network with a second client computer; the management computer determines whether to grant permission to the first client computer and if so the management computer allocates transmission bandwidth for the first client computer, wherein the allocated transmission bandwidth is less than the requested transmission bandwidth; the management computer informs the first client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth; and the first client computer initiates transmissions over the network with the second client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented process for transmissions between a caller and a callee of a packet-switched computer network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a request from the caller to a caller'"'"'s manager of the computer network for a specific amount of bandwidth for transmissions between the caller and the callee; (b) granting an allocation of bandwidth for the transmissions by the caller'"'"'s manager, wherein the allocation of bandwidth is less than the requested amount of bandwidth; and (c) initiating the transmissions with the callee by the caller in accordance with the allocation of bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system, comprising:
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(a) a local packet-switched computer network, comprising; (1) a local management computer; and (2) one or more local client computers, electrically connected to the local management computer; and (b) an external packet-switched computer network, electrically connected to the local computer network, comprising; (1) an external management computer; and (2) one or more external client computers, electrically connected to the external management computer, wherein; the local management computer allocates transmission bandwidth for the local computer network; the external management computer allocates transmission bandwidth for the external computer network; a local client computer requests an allocation of transmission bandwidth from the local management computer for transmissions with an external client computer; the local management computer queries the remote client computer to determine how to allocate transmission bandwidth to the local client computer; the local management computer allocates transmission bandwidth based on the query of the external client computer; the local management computer informs the local client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth; and the local client computer initiates transmissions with the external client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A computer-implemented process for transmissions over a packet-switched computer network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) requesting an allocation of transmission bandwidth by a local client computer from the local management computer for transmissions with an external client computer; (b) querying the remote client computer by the local management computer to determine how to allocate transmission bandwidth to the local client computer; (c) allocating transmission bandwidth by the local management computer based on the query of the external client computer; (d) informing the local client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth by the local management computer; and (e) initiating transmissions by the local client computer with the external client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A computer system, comprising:
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(a) a management computer; (b) two or more client computers, wherein; the management computer and the client computers are electrically interconnected over a packet-switched computer network; a first client computer requests an allocation of transmission bandwidth from the management computer for transmissions over the network with a second client computer; the management computer queries the second client computer to determine how to allocate transmission bandwidth to the first client computer; the management computer allocates transmission bandwidth for the first client computer based on the query of the second client computer; the management computer informs the first client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth; and the first client computer initiates transmissions over the network with the second client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A computer-implemented process for transmissions over a packet-switched computer network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) requesting an allocation of transmission bandwidth by a first client computer from the management computer for transmissions with a second client computer; (b) querying the second client computer by the management computer to determine how to allocate transmission bandwidth to the first client computer; (c) allocating transmission bandwidth by the management computer based on the query of the second client computer; (d) informing the first client computer of the allocated transmission bandwidth by the management computer; and (e) initiating transmission by the first client computer with the second client computer based on the allocated transmission bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification