Apparatus and method for bandwidth allocation as a function of a sensed characteristic of a user

A communication device comprising:

• a network interface configured to communicate with a network;
• a sensor data receiver for receiving sensor data pertaining to a sensed characteristic of a user;
• and
• circuitry implementing an IRSCU (information representative of the sensed characteristic of the user) messenger configured for sending, from the network interface to a network management entity used for adjusting a bandwidth allocated to a logical link used for carrying a traffic flow associated with the user, a message containing IRSCU, wherein the user is categorized into a group of users associated with a plurality of traffic flows carried by the logical link, wherein adjusting the bandwidth comprises adjusting an aggregate bandwidth for the plurality of traffic flows, and wherein the network management entity is different from a source of the traffic flow associated with the user.

A network management entity comprising:

• an interface configured to receive a message containing IRSCU (information representative of a sensed characteristic of a user);
• and
• circuitry implementing a bandwidth adjustor configured for adjusting, based on the IRSCU, a bandwidth allocated to a logical link used for carrying a traffic flow associated with the user,
• wherein the user is categorized into a group of users associated with a plurality of traffic flows carried by the logical link, wherein adjusting the bandwidth comprises adjusting an aggregate bandwidth for the plurality of traffic flows, and wherein the network management entity is different from a source of the traffic flow associated with the user.