Hierarchical closed-loop control of policy, goal, and resource allocation in bandwidth management using both service-specific and network monitor observations

A system for unified bandwidth management in a communications network supporting a plurality of services, the communication network having a plurality of network conditions and interfacing with a plurality of service-specific bandwidth managers, each service-specific bandwidth manager comprising an associated resource controller, the system comprising:

• a unified bandwidth manager including a control system, the control system comprising at least a policy control system and a goal control system, and an interface for providing at least one of policy information and goal information to the control system;
• a control interface to each of the service-specific bandwidth managers, each control interface providing an ability for the bandwidth manager to control at least one aspect of the associated service-specific bandwidth managers, each service-specific bandwidth manager affecting at least one associated network condition of an associated network resource;
• at least one service-specific observation element associated with one of the service-specific bandwidth managers, the observation reporting element providing first observation information to the bandwidth manager responsive to at least one network condition imposed the associated network resource by the associated the service-specific bandwidth manager;
• at least one network monitor observation element providing second observation information to the bandwidth manager, the second observation information responsive to at least one network condition observed in the associated network resource;
• wherein the control system is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated first and second observation information;
• wherein the control system uses the plurality of feedback inputs, together with the at least one policy information and goal information, to produce outgoing control information,
• wherein the outgoing control information is conveyed to at least one of the service-specific bandwidth managers using the associated control interface, and
• wherein the conveyed outgoing control information is used by the resource controller associated with the at least one service-specific bandwidth manager.