Bandwidth management

A device, comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of parameters associated with allocating bandwidth in a network, the bandwidth being allocated among at least a local class of traffic and a network class of traffic, and wherein at least a portion of the bandwidth is shareable between the local class of traffic and the network class of traffic;
• a communication interface configured to:
• receive requests for access to bandwidth from a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including at least one set top box (STB) and at least one digital video recorder (DVR);
• and
• logic configured to:
• receive a first request having a corresponding first bandwidth and being associated with a first class of traffic,
• determine whether the first bandwidth plus currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is less than a reserved bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic,
• approve the first request when the first bandwidth plus currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is less than the reserved bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic, and
• forward, when the first bandwidth plus the currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is not greater than a maximum bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic, the first request to a second device to determine whether a portion of the shareable bandwidth is available to fulfill the request.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

• store a plurality of parameters associated with managing bandwidth in a home network;
• receive a first request having a corresponding first bandwidth and being associated with a first class of traffic;
• determine whether the first bandwidth plus currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is less than a reserved bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic,
• approve the first request when the first bandwidth plus currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is less than the reserved bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic;
• and
• forward, when the first bandwidth plus the currently used bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic is not greater than a maximum bandwidth associated with the first class of traffic, the first request to a device located remotely from the home network to determine whether a portion of shareable bandwidth is available to fulfill the first request.