Method for temporal admission control in a digital video network

A bandwidth allocation server configured to allocate bandwidth in a digital video network, the digital video network comprising a restricted channel that is a link between a subscriber location and an access node, the bandwidth allocation server comprising:

• a request receiver configured to receive a bandwidth reservation request that requests reservation of bandwidth on the restricted channel and that includes a future reservation start time delimiting the duration for which reservation is requested;
• a reservation reader configured to read any existing bandwidth reservations that have already reserved bandwidth on the restricted channel during at least part of said duration;
• a comparator configured to determine whether a bandwidth limit would be exceeded by a combination of the requested bandwidth reservation and the existing bandwidth reservations, during any part of said duration;
• and
• a transmitter configured to send a reservation accept response when it is determined that the combination would not exceed the bandwidth limit during any part of said duration, and to send a reservation reject response when it is determined that the combination would exceed the bandwidth limit during the entirety of said duration.

A method for reserving bandwidth in a digital video network, the digital video network comprising a restricted channel that is a link between a subscriber location and an access node in the digital video network, the method comprising:

• generating a bandwidth reservation request that requests reservation of bandwidth on the restricted channel and that includes a future reservation start time delimiting the duration for which reservation is requested;
• sending the bandwidth reservation request to a bandwidth allocation server;
• receiving a reservation accept response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that a combination of the requested bandwidth reservation and any existing bandwidth reservations would not exceed a bandwidth limit during any part of said duration;
• and
• receiving a reservation reject response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that the combination would exceed the bandwidth limit during the entirety of said duration.

An apparatus for reserving bandwidth in a digital video network, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processing units configured to generate a bandwidth reservation request that requests reservation of bandwidth on a restricted channel and that includes a future reservation start time delimiting the duration for which reservation is requested;
• a transmitter configured to send the bandwidth reservation request to a bandwidth allocation server;
• and
• a response receiver configured to:
• receive a reservation accept response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that a combination of the requested bandwidth reservation and any existing bandwidth reservations would not exceed a bandwidth limit during any part of said duration, and to receive a reservation reject response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that the combination would exceed the bandwidth limit during the entirety of said duration.

A set top box comprising an apparatus for reserving bandwidth in a digital video network, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processing units configured to generate a bandwidth reservation request that requests reservation of bandwidth on a restricted channel and that includes a reservation start time delimiting the duration for which reservation is requested;
• a transmitter configured to send the bandwidth reservation request to a bandwidth allocation server;
• and
• a response receiver configured to receive a reservation accept response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that a combination of the requested bandwidth reservation and any existing bandwidth reservations would not exceed a bandwidth limit during any part of said duration, and to receive a reservation reject response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that the combination would exceed the bandwidth limit during the entirety of said duration.

A television set comprising an apparatus for reserving bandwidth in a digital video network, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processing units configured to generate a bandwidth reservation request that requests reservation of bandwidth on a restricted channel and that includes a reservation start time delimiting the duration for which reservation is requested;
• a transmitter configured to send the bandwidth reservation request to a bandwidth allocation server;
• and
• a response receiver configured to receive a reservation accept response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that a combination of the requested bandwidth reservation and any existing bandwidth reservations would not exceed a bandwidth limit during any part of said duration, and to receive a reservation reject response when the bandwidth allocation server determines that the combination would exceed the bandwidth limit during the entirety of said duration.