US 5,673,253 A · Dynamic allocation of telecommunications resources

Abstract

A network node and a method of dynamically allocating bandwidth for intranodal and internodal telecommunications sessions include monitoring resource utilization at both a line shelf level and a system-wide level. In one embodiment, the dynamic allocation of bandwidth is applied to multimedia conferencing between subscribers of the same private branch exchange (PBX). If resource utilization at one or both of the line shelves that are involved in the intranodal session reaches or exceeds a preselected maximum threshold, bandwidth reallocation is triggered. In like manner, if a switching fabric of the PBX has reached a resource utilization maximum threshold that threatens system-wide blocking of any additional sessions, resources are reallocated for the system in order to free bandwidth. Utilization thresholds preferably adaptively vary on an hour-to-hour basis and/or a day-to-day basis. In the preferred embodiment, a hierarchy of classes of service determines which sessions will be subjected to bandwidth reduction.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A network node within a telecommunications network of nodes comprising:

a first group of subscriber lines of said network node for providing telecommunication;
first support means connected to said first group for providing access and control to said subscriber lines of said first group;
at least one second group of subscriber lines of said network node for providing telecommunication;
second support means connected to said second group for providing access and control to said subscriber lines of said second group;
switching means, connected to said first and second support means, for routing intranodal telecommunications connections among said subscriber lines of said network node and for routing internodal telecommunications connections between said subscriber lines and other nodes of said telecommunications network via an external trunk;
utilization monitoring means, connected to each of said switching means and said first and second support means for monitoring availability of bandwidth and for monitoring available routing capacity of said switching means;
and
dynamic bandwidth allocation means, connected to said utilization monitoring means, for determining a specific bandwidth upon initiation of each intranodal telecommunications connection and for selectively varying the bandwidth for ongoing intranodal telecommunications connection based upon utilization of said first and second support means and based upon available routing capacity of said switching means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic allocation of telecommunications resources

Life of this patent

Dynamic allocation of telecommunications resources

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21