Patent ID: 6947409
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for managing bandwidth allocated to a plurality of virtual networks on the same shared network, comprising: a server device configured for connection to a virtual network on a shared network and configured to communicate with at least one other said server device; and means associated with said server device for dynamically allocating bandwidth to each virtual network on said shared network to which said server devices are connected, and for reallocating said bandwidth if sufficient bandwidth on said shared network is not available to simultaneously support bandwidth requirements of said virtual networks; wherein at any given time a said one of said server devices functions as an active master server; wherein said active master server functions to reallocate said bandwidth if sufficient bandwidth on said shared network is not available to simultaneously support bandwidth requirements of said virtual networks; wherein said server device is configured to detect the presence of an active master server when newly connected to a virtual network on said shared network and, if no active master server is detected, to become said active master server; and wherein, upon disconnection of said active master server, another said server device becomes said active master server.