ATM communication system with optimal traffic control by changing the allocated bandwidth

An ATM communication system comprising:

• an ATM switching network which includes:
• a plurality of ATM exchanges and controls exchanges among a plurality of terminal equipment, comprising
• notifying means;
• traffic monitoring mean for monitoring the amount of traffic in said ATM switching network;
• and
• a management apparatus which manages the traffic in said ATM switching network, said management apparatus including:
• analyzing means for analyzing an allocable bandwidth in accordance with the amount of traffic from said traffic monitoring means;
• and
• first terminal equipment and second terminal equipment which can communicate with each other and including first request means and second request means which request a first communication bandwidth and a second communication bandwidth to a side of said ATM switching network, said analyzing means analyzing the allocable bandwidth given to said first and second terminal equipment;
• said first and second terminal equipment respectively sending out the first and second communication bandwidths to said ATM switching network from said first and second request means;
• said analyzing means deciding on a common available bandwidth for said first an second terminal equipment based on said first and second communication bandwidths and the amount of traffic monitored by said traffic monitoring means, the determined available bandwidth notified to said first and second terminal equipment through said notifying means.

An ATM communication process comprising the steps of:

• a) performing communication between a first terminal equipment and a second terminal equipment, a first communication bandwidth required for the communication being sent through a first request means in the first terminal equipment on the originating side to an ATM switching network at the start of the communication;
• b) monitoring the amount of traffic in the ATM switching network, analyzing the bandwidth allocable to the terminal equipment in the ATM switching network, and, when receiving the first communication bandwidth form the originating side of the first terminal equipment, sending the received first communication bandwidth together with the allocable bandwidth to the terminating side second terminal equipment;
• c) receiving the allocable bandwidth and the first communication bandwidth, and sending the second communication bandwidth which the second terminal equipment requests for communication, through a second request means in the equipment to the ATM switching network side;
• d) determining the available bandwidth to be commonly occupied by the first and second terminal equipment based on the first and second communication bandwidths and the allocable bandwidth;
• and
• e) sending the determined available bandwidth form the ATM switching network side to the first and second terminal equipment.

An ATM communication system comprising:

• an ATM switching network which includes a plurality of ATM exchanges and controls exchanges among a plurality of terminal equipment;
• a management apparatus which manages the traffic in said ATM switching network;
• a communication line layer, coupled to said management apparatus and said ATM switching network, which transfers information relating to traffic among said management apparatus and said ATM switching network;
• and
• notifying means, provided in said ATM switching network, for receiving the traffic information, and for notifying said plurality of terminal equipment of the allocable bandwidth which can be used in accordance with the amount of traffic in said ATM switching network.