Predictively allocated bandwidth in a communications network
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a broadband communications network, said method comprising:
- pre-allocating the amount of bandwidth on the network available for use for bearer channels for a circuit-connected service;
determining said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth in accordance with a predictive time-dependent function so as to track expected changes in demand for bearer channels;
registering at an access for the circuit-connected service the peak value of the number of bearer channels corresponding to the peak value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth;
while the current value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth is less than said peak value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth, then at the access node, in dependent upon the difference between said current and peak values, marking one or more of the bearer channels as blocked.
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Abstract
In a broadband communications network, bandwidth is allocated to bearer channels for a circuit connected service, such as narrowband telephony. The allocated bandwidth is changed automatically as a function of time so as to track expected changes in demand for bearer channels. When the number of allocated channels falls from its peak value, then at the access node some of the channels may be marked as blocked.
25 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for operating a broadband communications network, said method comprising:
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pre-allocating the amount of bandwidth on the network available for use for bearer channels for a circuit-connected service; determining said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth in accordance with a predictive time-dependent function so as to track expected changes in demand for bearer channels; registering at an access for the circuit-connected service the peak value of the number of bearer channels corresponding to the peak value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth; while the current value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth is less than said peak value of said pre-allocated amount of bandwidth, then at the access node, in dependent upon the difference between said current and peak values, marking one or more of the bearer channels as blocked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A node for connection in a broadband communications network, the node comprising:
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(a) a broadband network interface for connection to the broadband network; (b) a signaling interface arranged to receive circuit set up signals for a circuit-connected communications service; (c) means for establishing bearer channels in the broadband network for carrying circuit allocated to the circuit-connected service; and (d) control means programmed with a predictive time dependent control algorithm arranged automatically to change the amount of bandwidth pre-allocated for use for the bearer channels based, at least in part, upon a rate of change in traffic demand so as to track expected changes in demand for the bearer channels. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification