User directed bandwidth optimization

A method for optimizing bandwidth usage via an application executing on an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the method comprising:

• the application causing the one or more processors to present an interface in the application executing on the electronic device, the interface for selection of an access product, the access product corresponding to an access profile that identifies a set of applications and corresponding network priority levels thereof;
• receiving an input at the one or more processors, from the user via the application, indicating a selection of the access product;
• the application causing the one or more processors to transmit, via a local network, a notification including an indication of the selected access product;
• and
• the electronic device causing the one or more processors to transmit, via the local network, a plurality of data packets respectively addressed to locations external to a local network and associated with an application in the set of applications,
• wherein:
• when the byte volume of the plurality of data packets exceeds a threshold proportion of a total bandwidth allocation indicated by the access profile, data packets associated with applications in the set of applications that correspond to a higher priority level are transmitted to the respective locations external to the local network and data packets associated with applications in the set of applications that correspond to a lower priority level are queued, and
• when the byte volume of the plurality of data packets is less than the threshold proportion of a total bandwidth allocation indicated by the access profile, data packets associated with applications in the set of applications that correspond to a higher priority level and data packets associated with applications in the set of applications that correspond to a lower priority level are routed to the respective locations external to the local network.

A system for optimizing bandwidth usage, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a profile database storing an access profile corresponding to an electronic device;
• and
• one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
• receive, from the electronic device, a traffic addressed to a location external to a local network;
• identify, by the one or more processors, a plurality of data streams within the traffic;
• correspond, by the one or more processors, the data streams to respective applications;
• query, by the one or more process, the access profile corresponding to the electronic device to determine a network priority level for the plurality of applications, wherein the access profile associates applications with a respect network priority level;
• compare, by the one or more processors, an amount of bandwidth required to transmit the traffic to a total bandwidth allocation indicated by the access profile;
• when the amount of bandwidth required to transmit the traffic is greater than a threshold proportion of the total bandwidth allocation,
• route the data streams corresponding to applications associated with a first network priority level to the respective locations external to the local network, and
• queue data streams corresponding to application associated with a second network priority level, the second network priority level being a lower priority than the first network priority level;
• and
• when the amount of bandwidth required to transmit the traffic is less than the threshold proportion of the total bandwidth allocation,
• route the data streams corresponding to applications associated with the first network priority level and the data streams corresponding to applications associated with the second network priority level to the respective locations external to the local network.