Patent ID: 7961702

Claim:
A method of allocating bandwidth in a first node that is operable in an ad hoc, wireless network configured to support at least one guaranteed feasible flow allocation, the method comprising the steps of: initiating a communication between the first node and a second node in the network that, together, are endpoints of a link, the communication being related to possible bandwidth allocation adjustment of a flow sharing the link; determining, in the first node, a first new bandwidth allocation that approaches a first optimization condition for the flow; communicating with the second node to determine a mutually-agreed upon optimal bandwidth allocation for the flow; notifying neighbor nodes in the network of the mutually-agreed upon optimal bandwidth allocation when reallocation is needed, wherein the neighbor nodes each modify their bandwidth allocation based on the notification; and adopting the mutually-agreed upon optimal allocation for the flow when reallocation is needed, wherein the at least one guaranteed feasible flow allocation comprises at least one flow allocation for which a schedule exists that can realize the at least one flow allocation by taking into account flows in the ad hoc network.