Method, system and storage medium for allocating bandwidth in a communication network

A communication network comprising:

• a first switch directing signals on the communication network;
• a second switch in communication with said first switch, said second switch directing signals on the network;
• during a set-up phase:
• said first switch receiving a set-up message, the set-up message requesting a connection having a requested bandwidth and a requested priority;
• said first switch generating a release message rejecting the requested connection if available priority bandwidth for the requested priority is less than the requested bandwidth;
• said first switch creating a provisional connection corresponding to the requested connection if the available priority bandwidth for the requested priority is greater than or equal to the requested bandwidth;
• and
• said first switch forwarding the set-up message to said second switch if the available priority bandwidth for the requested priority is greater than or equal to the requested bandwidth;
• during a connect phase:
• said first switch receiving a connect message from said second switch, the connect message requesting an actual connection having the requested bandwidth and the requested priority;
• said first switch committing the provisional connection to the actual connection if actual priority bandwidth for the requested priority is greater than or equal to the requested bandwidth;
• and
• said first switch preempting the provisional connection if the actual priority bandwidth for the requested priority is less than the requested bandwidth.

A method of allocating time slots between a first switch and a second switch in a communication network carrying time division multiplexed signals, the method comprising:

• designating one of the first switch and the second switch as a master switch;
• designating the other of the first switch and the second switch as a slave switch;
• the master switch providing a set-up message including a master time slot to the slave switch;
• the slave switch determining if the master time slot is available at the slave switch;
• and
• if the master time slot is available at the slave switch, the slave switch reserves the master time slot for communication with the master switch and forwards the set-up message to a further switch.

A communication network carrying time division multiplexed signals, the network comprising:

• a first switch directing signals on the communication network;
• a second switch in communication with said first switch, said second switch directing signals on the network;
• one of said first switch and said second switch being designated as a master switch;
• the other of said first switch and said second switch as a slave switch;
• said master switch providing a set-up message including a master time slot to said slave switch;
• said slave switch determining if the master time slot is available at said slave switch;
• and
• if the master time slot is available at said slave switch, said slave switch reserves the master time slot for communication with said master switch and forwards the set-up message to a further switch.