Patent ID: 7366134

Claim:
A method for dynamically allocating network resources in a communication network having a plurality of shared users, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a new request for specified network resources from a user entitled to a given class of service; in response to said new request, verifying that the user is entitled to the specified network resources; if the user is entitled to the specified network resources, determining if the specified network resources are available; in association with said step of determining, if the specified network resources are available, immediately allocating to said user said specified network resources; in association with said step of determining, if said specified resources are not available, immediately reallocating to said user, from a network reserve, sufficient network resources to make up said specified network resources; in association with said step of determining, if said specified resources are not fully available, immediately allocating to said user so much of said network resources as are available; and from time to time, reallocating said network resources within each class of service to tend to (a) allocate said network resources within each class of service equally among all users, except (b) not exceeding the requested amount of said network resources for any user.