System for reserving a pass band for different classes of traffic

Bandwidth reservation system in a communication network comprising a centralized bandwidth manager that implements a bandwidth reservation protocol and that is linked to at least one host,

• wherein an external entity supplies the centralized bandwidth manager with an updated view of the network logical topology,
• and wherein the centralized bandwidth manager comprises means for, on reception of a bandwidth reservation request between a source and a destination for certain class of traffic, calculating the current network path between the source and the destination by using an algorithm, said path borrowing at least one link of the network, and means for verifying on each link of the path that there is sufficient bandwidth available for the requested class of traffic in the requested reservation.

Communication device, in a communication network, implementing a bandwidth reservation protocol and linked to at least one host, comprising:

• a. means for receiving, from an external entity, an updated view of the network logical topology,
• b. means for, on reception of a bandwidth reservation request between a source and a destination for a certain class of traffic, calculating the current network path between the source and the destination by using an algorithm, said path borrowing at least one link of the network, and
• c. means for verifying on each of the links of the path that there is sufficient bandwidth available for the requested class of traffic in the requested reservation.