Patent ID: 7609631

Claim:
An apparatus at a customer premises equipment (CPE) transmitting node, the apparatus comprising: means at the CPE transmitting node for receiving data in frames from a plurality of connections, the plurality of connections being associated with multiple classes of service; means at the CPE transmitting node for selecting a first data group associated with a first class of service; means at the CPE transmitting node for allocating bandwidth for the first data group within a first frame to meet a minimum guaranteed rate associated with the first class of service; wherein the means for allocating allocates bandwidth within the first frame for a second data group associated with a second class of service, to meet a minimum guaranteed data rate associated with the second class of service, the allocation of bandwidth for the second data group subject to an availability of bandwidth in the first frame following the allocation of bandwidth for the first data group; wherein the means for allocating allocates bandwidth within the first frame for transmitting excess demand subject to an availability of bandwidth in the first frame following the allocation of bandwidth for the second group; and means at the CPE transmitting node for transmitting the first data group, the second data group, and the excess demand to a first receiving node during the first frame.