Patent ID: 7742499

Claim:
A method of adaptive bandwidth management for a packet-based communications network, comprising: receiving quality of service (QoS) information from one or more end-user communications devices, the QoS information relating to active communications across a communications link between two zones in the packet-based communications network; storing a maximum interzone bandwidth value representing a maximum amount of allowable bandwidth on the communications link between the two zones; lowering the maximum bandwidth value to a sliding maximum interzone bandwidth value in response to the received QoS information; determining an amount of bandwidth presently being utilized across the communications link between the two zones; receiving a request for a new call between the two zones; determining an amount of bandwidth necessary to handle the new call; and rejecting the new call when the sum of the amount of bandwidth presently being utilized and the amount of bandwidth necessary for the new call exceeds the sliding maximum interzone bandwidth value.