BROADBAND ACCESS NETWORK CAPACITY MANAGEMENT

摘要

A broadband access network (20) includes a plurality of access nodes (22-28) and at least one edge node (32). The total bandwidth associated with at least a link (34) associated with the edge node (32) is divided up into independently controlled portions. A central resource database (40) in one example allocates portions of the total bandwidth exclusively among the plurality of access nodes (22-28). Flow admission is controlled at the access nodes (22-28) based upon current usage of the exclusively allocated bandwidth at each access node. In a disclosed example, the amount of the total bandwidth exclusively allocated to each access node can be changed on a periodic basis or responsive to use requirements.