Patent ID: 7082132

Claim:
An edge node adapted to serve a multiplicity of data streams, said edge node comprising: a plurality of input ports adapted to receive said data streams, wherein each of said input ports includes an input-port controller and at least one of said input ports includes a bitrate-estimation device adapted to compute a bitrate requirement for each of said data streams; a plurality of output ports, wherein each of said output ports includes an output-port controller; a switching fabric adapted to connect any of said input ports to any of said output ports; and an edge controller including: an edge control processor adapted to communicate with said plurality of input ports and said plurality of output ports; a route selection device, in communication with said edge control processor, adapted to select a route for each of said data streams; a fabric scheduling device, in communication with said edge control processor, adapted to determine a distinct time of transfer for each of a set of data segments, into which each of said data streams are segmented, across said switching fabric; and a bitrate-allocation device, in communication with said edge control processor, adapted to allocate a bitrate of a data stream based, at least in part, on said bitrate requirement for said data stream computed by said bitrate-estimation device.