Patent ID: 8780709

Claim:
A method comprising applying logic of a network device to: determine a heavy network use condition for a particular network user, where the heavy use condition is a bandwidth utilization value for the user greater than an average rate for the user; during a network congestion condition, and only when the user is heavy, apply a first bandwidth rate R1 to the user, where R1 is less than a service rate maximum bandwidth Rmax for the user; during a non-congestion condition, and only when the user is heavy, apply a second bandwidth rate R2 to the user, where R2 is greater than the service rate maximum bandwidth Rmax for the user; decreasing R1 with an increase in the user's bandwidth utilization; setting R1 to a first value when the user's bandwidth utilization is within a first range of values; and setting R1 to a second value when the user's bandwidth utilization is within a second range of values.