Patent ID: 8520541

Claim:
A method for managing network bandwidth, the method comprising: receiving, at a source site, an offer message including an endpoint media settings list; determining a codec list and a media type for a call; determining a source media settings list based on the codec list and the media type for the call; determining a first filtered media preferences list based on the source media settings list and the endpoint media settings list; allocating bandwidth from applicable pools of bandwidth at the source site based on the first filtered media preferences list; updating the bandwidth allocation in the applicable pools at the source site based on a call settings list received in a propagated answer message; determining mapping information for a second site that is a via site; and sending an invite message to the via site, and wherein the via site receives the invite message and performs steps comprising: determining a first via site preferences list; determining a third filtered media preferences list based on filtering the first via preferences list against the first filtered media preferences list; allocating bandwidth from applicable pools of bandwidth at the via site based on the third filtered media preferences list; and updating the bandwidth allocation in the applicable pools at the via site based on the call settings list received in the propagated answer message.