Pre-scheduled allocation of network resources with accurate runtime estimation of communication time

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network resources providing data transmission between a plurality of source end points and a plurality of destination end points, wherein a first source end point transmits data to a first destination end point, at a common time reference, when a time at which the first source end point is ready to transmit the data is considered close by:
• estimating a data readiness time interval to define an estimated data readiness time interval;
• estimating a network resource reservation readiness time interval;
• issuing a resource reservation request at a time when the estimated data readiness time interval and the estimated network resource reservation readiness time interval are determined indicating a resource reservation can be completed before an end of the data readiness time interval, the time being determined from the estimated data readiness time interval and the estimated network resource reservation readiness time interval such that allocation of the network resources is completed immediately before data is ready for transmission;
• and
• allocating network resources on an end-to-end path when a resource reservation confirmation is issued.

A system comprising:

• network resources configured to be allocated, at a common time reference between source and destination end points, on an end-to-end path by at least:
• estimating a data readiness time interval;
• and
• issuing a resource reservation request when a time at which a resource reservation can be completed is close to the estimated data readiness time interval, the time being determined from the estimated data readiness time interval and an estimated network resource reservation readiness time interval such that allocation of the network resources is completed immediately before data is ready for transmission.