초록 ▼

An apparatus that automatically adjusts authorized bandwidth allocated to a user communicating through an Ethernet network. The apparatus includes a usage monitor in communication with a network gateway or network management system to monitor bandwidth consumed by the user, an evaluator responsive t

An apparatus that automatically adjusts authorized bandwidth allocated to a user communicating through an Ethernet network. The apparatus includes a usage monitor in communication with a network gateway or network management system to monitor bandwidth consumed by the user, an evaluator responsive to bandwidth usage that automatically determines bandwidth needs based on historical usage or a demand threshold, and a controller responsive to the evaluator to initiate an examination of surplus bandwidth available at various junctions between the user and a destination. The controller may optionally obtain user verification prior to effecting an automatic increase or decrease in allocated or authorized bandwidth. Allocated bandwidth authorization may also be decreased according to network loading and/or a class of service assignment. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An apparatus that automatically adjusts an amount of bandwidth allocated to an Ethernet-based user communicating with a destination node via a network including an Ethernet network, said apparatus comprising: an access gateway interposed between the user and the Ethernet network to reg

We claim: 1. An apparatus that automatically adjusts an amount of bandwidth allocated to an Ethernet-based user communicating with a destination node via a network including an Ethernet network, said apparatus comprising: an access gateway interposed between the user and the Ethernet network to regulate the amount of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user, a usage monitor that communicates with the access gateway to automatically monitor the amount of bandwidth consumed by the user, an evaluator responsive to the usage monitor to automatically determine bandwidth needed by the user based on historical bandwidth consumption of the user, and a controller responsive to the evaluator to initiate an examination of bandwidth available through at least one junction between the user and the destination node and, in response to the examination, to enable the access gateway to alter the authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on bandwidth availability. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller enables the access gateway to increase the authorized bandwidth of the user based on availability of bandwidth at junctions between the user and the destination node. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller enables the access gateway to decrease the authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on a network loading and class of service assigned to the user. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the usage monitor detects and stores bandwidth consumption statistics relative to the user, and the evaluator accesses the consumption statistics in order to determine additional bandwidth needed by the user. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the evaluator determines additional bandwidth need based on average throughput of the user, and the controller initiates the examination when the average throughput exceeds a given threshold. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including an accounting module responsive to the access gateway to assess charges based on the level of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the network further includes a central office and at least one of an IP network, frame relay, ATM, and/or other data networks interposed between the user and the destination node, and the controller examines available bandwidth at least one junction between (a) the user and a gateway switch at the access gateway, (b) the gateway switch and the central office, and (c) the central office and IP network prior to enabling said access gateway to alter the authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on bandwidth availability. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller effects communication with the user to obtain approval prior to altering bandwidth authorization. 9. A method of automatically adjusting an amount of bandwidth allocated to an Ethernet-based user communicating with a destination node via a network that includes an Ethernet network and an access gateway interposed between the user and the Ethernet network, said method comprising: regulating the amount of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user via said access gateway, monitoring the amount of bandwidth consumed by the user using said access gateway to automatically obtain usage information, evaluating the usage information to determine additional bandwidth needed by the user based on historical bandwidth usage by the user, examining bandwidth available at least one junction between the user and a destination node and, in response to said examining, controlling the amount of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on bandwidth availability at said junction. 10. The method of claim 9, further including increasing the authorized bandwidth of the user based on availability of bandwidth at said junction between the user and the destination node. 11. The method of claim 9, further including decreasing the amount of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on network loading and class of service assigned to the user. 12. The method of claim 10, further including detecting and storing bandwidth consumption statistics relative to the user, and wherein said evaluating step includes accessing the consumption statistics in order to determine additional bandwidth need by the user. 13. The method of claim 12, further including determining additional bandwidth need based on average throughput of the user, and wherein said controller initiates said examination when the average throughput exceeds a given threshold. 14. The method of claim 13, further including assessing user charges based on the level of authorized bandwidth allocated to the user. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the network further includes a central office and at least one of an IP network, frame relay, ATM, and/or other data networks interposed between the user and the destination node, and said examining step further includes examining available bandwidth through at least one junction between (a) the user and an access gateway switch, (b) the access gateway switch and the central office, and (c) the central office and, as one example, an IP network prior to enabling said access gateway to alter the authorized bandwidth allocated to the user based on bandwidth availability. 16. The method of claim 15, further including communicating with the user to obtain authorization prior to altering bandwidth allocation.