COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK MANAGEMENT

摘要

The present invention provides a communications network comprising a plurality of routers and a plurality of communications links which interconnect the routers and a global network management module. The global network management module is in communication with a number of diverse information sources, such as television listings, social networking sites, user preferences, historical data relating to the accessing of content, etc. such that the global network management module can make a prediction as to the likelihood that a particular network traffic event will occur and the demands that such a traffic event will place on the network. If the global network management module decides that the traffic event will occur then it will pre-configure the communications network such that the traffic generated by the event can be carried across the network within pre-defined quality thresholds and without unnecessarily effecting other traffic being carried on the network.