Allocation of channel capacity in multiservice networks
First Claim
1. A method for allocating capacity on a network, said method comprising:
- providing a network having an access point through which transmissions along the network may be transferred, and a predefined number of channels and a second number of channels subsequent to said access point, the predefined number of channels being allocated to a first service provider, the second number of channels being allocated to a second service provider, and the second number of channels being exclusive of said predefined number of channels;
directing a transmission associated with said first service provider to the access point;
determining if there is available an unassigned channel in the predefined number of channels, including comparing a number of existing transmissions associated with said first service provider to said predefined number of channels, there being an available unassigned channel if said predefined number of channels is greater than said number of existing transmissions associated with said first service provider;
allocating said transmission to said available unassigned channel and transferring said transmission through the access point if there is an unassigned channel in said predefined number of channels; and
rejecting said transmission as it passes through the access point if there is not an unassigned channel in said predefined number of channels or said second number of channels,wherein said second service provider is associated with a plurality of existing transmissions from a plurality of end users.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are described which enable the operator of a network such as an Internet protocol (IP) network to allocate ingress and egress channel capacity for the use by different services or for use by different service providers. The methods can prevent a service provider or a service from overusing network capacity. The methods also enable the network operator to temporarily allocate unused capacity if demand for a service exceeds previously allocated capacity. Further a method is described whereby capacity on a Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network is sold to service providers with guarantees for the number of available channels, where the channel capacity guarantees could be global, or by any type of subdivision. In addition to having a committed channel capacity, the service provider could be allowed to exceed the committed capacity whenever excess capacity is available on the network.
43 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for allocating capacity on a network, said method comprising:
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providing a network having an access point through which transmissions along the network may be transferred, and a predefined number of channels and a second number of channels subsequent to said access point, the predefined number of channels being allocated to a first service provider, the second number of channels being allocated to a second service provider, and the second number of channels being exclusive of said predefined number of channels; directing a transmission associated with said first service provider to the access point; determining if there is available an unassigned channel in the predefined number of channels, including comparing a number of existing transmissions associated with said first service provider to said predefined number of channels, there being an available unassigned channel if said predefined number of channels is greater than said number of existing transmissions associated with said first service provider; allocating said transmission to said available unassigned channel and transferring said transmission through the access point if there is an unassigned channel in said predefined number of channels; and rejecting said transmission as it passes through the access point if there is not an unassigned channel in said predefined number of channels or said second number of channels, wherein said second service provider is associated with a plurality of existing transmissions from a plurality of end users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for allocating capacity on a network, said method comprising:
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providing a network having an access point through which transmissions along the network may be transferred, a predefined first number of channels, and a second number of channels not included in said predefined first number of channels, the predefined first number of channels and the second number of channels being channels to which the transmissions may be assigned, subsequent to said access point; directing a transmission to the access point; calculating if there is available an unassigned channel in the second number of channels if there is no available channel in the predefined first number of channels; allocating said transmission to said available unassigned channel; and transferring said transmission through the access point; wherein a predetermined number of free channels that cannot be allocated are reserved in the second number of channels. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of providing a service provider capacity on a network, the method comprising:
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having a network operator with a limited number of channels on a network; allocating to a service provider a predefined number of channels on said network; allowing said, network operator to direct transmissions from said service provider into said limited number of channels on said network; comparing the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to said predefined number of channels allocated to said service provider; and determining whether to allow a transmission into one of the limited number of channels based on said comparison, comprising transferring said transmission to an available unassigned channel in said predetermined number of channels, or calculating whether there is an available unassigned channel allocated to a second service provider on said network but not included in said predefined number of channels and directing said transmission to said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, wherein said service provider is charged a special rate for using said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, and wherein said second service provider is associated with a plurality of existing transmissions from a plurality of end users. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of providing a service provider capacity on a network, the method comprising:
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having a network operator with a limited number of channels on a network; allocating to a service provider a predefined number of channels on said network; allowing said network operator to direct transmissions from said service provider into said limited number of channels on said network; comparing the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to said predefined number of channels allocated to said service provider; and determining whether to allow a transmission into one of said limited number of channels based on said comparison, comprising transferring said transmission to an available unassigned channel in said predetermined number of channels, or calculating whether there is an available unassigned channel allocated to a second service provider on said network but not included in said predefined number of channels and directing said transmission to said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, wherein said step of calculating allows transferring of said transmission if there are at least a number N of unassigned channels, N being a number greater than or equal to zero, and wherein said second service provider is associated with a plurality of existing transmissions from a plurality of end users. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of providing a service provider capacity on a network, the method comprising:
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having a network operator with a limited number of channels on a network; allocating to a service provider a predefined number of channels on said network; allowing said network operator to direct transmissions from said service provider into said limited number of channels on said network; comparing the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to said predefined number of channels allocated to said service provider; and determining whether to allow a transmission into one of the limited number of channels based on said comparison, comprising transferring said transmission to an available unassigned channel in said predetermined number of channels, or calculating whether there is an available unassigned channel on said network but not included in said predefined number of channels and directing said transmission to said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, wherein said step of calculating allows transferring of said transmission if at least X % of a total number of channels are unassigned channels, X being any value between 0 and 100 inclusive. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of providing a service provider capacity on a network, the method comprising:
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having a network operator with a limited number of channels on a network; allocating to a service provider a predefined number of channels on said network, the service provider being distinct from the network operator; allowing said network operator to direct transmissions from said service provider into said limited number of channels on said network; comparing the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to said predefined number of channels allocated to said service provider; and determining whether to allow a transmission into one of the limited number of channels based on said comparison, comprising transferring said transmission to an available unassigned channel in said predetermined number of channels, or calculating whether there is an available unassigned channel on said network but not included in said predefined number of channels and directing said transmission to said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, wherein the step of calculating includes, giving to said service provider a number, N, there being an available unassigned channel if the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to a channel not in said predetermined number of channels is less than N, N having any value greater than or equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of providing a service provider capacity on a network, the method comprising:
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having a network operator with a limited number of channels on a network; allocating to a service provider a predefined number of channels on said network; allowing said network operator to direct transmissions from said service provider into said limited number of channels on said network; comparing the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to said predefined number of channels allocated to said service provider; and determining whether to allow a transmission into one of the limited number of channels based on said comparison, comprising transferring said transmission to an available unassigned channel in said predetermined number of channels, or calculating whether there is an available unassigned channel on said network but not included in said predefined number of channels and directing said transmission to said available unassigned channel not included in said predefined number of channels, wherein the step of calculating includes, giving to said service provider a value X, there being an available unassigned channel if the number of transmissions from said service provider directed by said network operator to a channel not in said predetermined number of channels is less than X % of the number of unassigned channels, X having any value from 0 to 100 inclusive. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for allocating capacity on a network, said method comprising:
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providing a network having an access point through which transmissions along the network may be transferred, a first number of channels, and a second number of channels not included in said first number of channels, wherein the first number of channels and the second number of channels are channels to which the transmissions may be assigned; directing a transmission to the access point; calculating if there is available an unassigned channel in the second number of channels if there is no available channel in the first number of channels; allocating said transmission to said available unassigned channel; and transferring said transmission through the access point; wherein a percentage of free channels that cannot be allocated are reserved in the second number of channels.
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Specification