Dynamic bandwidth allocation for variable bit rate streaming data

A method to reserve bandwidth for a connection of a network, which method is intended for a requesting terminal or a central controller of said network, wherein

• the requesting terminal and/or the central controller comprises a transmit queue for buffering sending data, and
• the requesting terminal is a terminal of a network with said central controller, comprising the following steps,
• reserving a predetermined amount of bandwidth for providing a certain quality of service for said connection
• characterized by
• determining the filling status of the transmit queue which indicates how much sending data is in the transmit queue,
• determining a needed amount of bandwidth which is needed in a predetermined future, in particular in a predetermined future transmission frame, the needed amount of bandwidth depending on the filling status of the transmit queue and not exceeding said predetermined amount of bandwidth, and
• indicating said needed amount of bandwidth to said central controller.

A central controller of a network comprising

• a bandwidth allocation means that allocates a predetermined amount of bandwidth to a connection with a certain quality of service requirement,
• the owner of said connection being said central controller or a requesting terminal,
• characterized by
• a bandwidth freeing means that receives a request signal sent out by said owner indicating a needed amount of bandwidth and that—in particular in the case that said certain amount of bandwidth neither exceeds said predetermined amount nor said needed amount of bandwidth—frees a certain amount of bandwidth which is the difference of said predetermined amount of bandwidth and said needed amount of bandwidth, and
• a bandwidth re-allocation means that—in particular in the case that said certain amount of bandwidth neither exceeds said predetermined amount nor said needed amount of bandwidth—immediately re-allocates as much of said certain amount of bandwidth, so that said indicated amount of bandwidth according to said request signal is available to said owner.

A requesting terminal of a network having a connection with other terminals of the network or with a central controller of the network,

• the connection requiring a certain quality of service and therefore a predetermined amount of bandwidth, comprising
• a transmit queue for buffering sending data,
• characterized by
• a monitoring means, that monitors the filling status of said transmit queue and sends out a request signal to said central controller indicating a needed amount of bandwidth, which depends on the filling status.