METHODS FOR MANAGING BANDWIDTH IN A PACKET-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

A packet-based communication system and method of call control that allows variable numbers of calls of potentially multiple types (e.g., conventional and trunking calls) to proceed concurrently over shared links of an IP network (100) without exceeding available bandwidth. Call counts are determined for one or more paths (160, 162, 164) between endpoints, defining numbers of calls that are supportable by the one or more paths. The call counts may be established using a reservation-based method, whereby reservations of call units of bandwidth are requested (402) by a first host (e.g., zone controller (116)) on behalf of a second host (e.g., repeater (122)) and granted (408) or denied (416) by the network based on the availability of the requested bandwidth. Then, upon the zone controller receiving (502) a call request, the zone controller grants (506), busies or denies (510) the request based on the path(s) needed for the call, the number of reserved call units associated with the path(s) and the amount of call units required to support the call.