Patent ID: 7440462

Claim:
A method of providing improved quality of service (QoS) control in an asynchronous network having a plurality of communication devices, at least one of which is operable to selectively function normally or as a non-dedicated mediation device when selected, comprising: analyzing a plurality of quality of service (QoS) parameters relevant to a communication request received from a sender communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the asynchronous network to send a communication intended for a target communication device of the plurality of communication devices; selecting the non-dedicated mediation device of the plurality of communication devices to provide a mediation function for the sender communication device and the target communication device, wherein the non-dedicated mediation device is selected based upon the analysis of the QoS parameters relevant to the communication request; the non-dedicated mediation device making a determination on how to respond to the communication request based upon the analysis of the plurality of QoS parameters; if the determination is that the communication request can be serviced, the non-dedicated mediation device servicing the communication request based on a communication schedule of at least one of the sender and target communication devices.