Patent ID: 7688729

Claim:
A method to deliver across an access network a data stream requiring a bandwidth and a quality of service, said method comprising: provisioning a plurality of virtual connections capable of meeting bandwidth and quality of service requirements between a user, among a plurality of users coupled to said access network, and an access server of said access network coupled to a content provider operable to deliver said data stream, wherein the provisioned virtual connections are specific to the user; and requesting, by the user, said data stream from said content provider after said provisioning of the plurality of virtual connections to the user, wherein after the user has requested said data stream from said content provider, and if the user lacks support for negotiating or acknowledging the bandwidth through said access network with said quality of service, said method further comprises: identifying a virtual connection out of said plurality of provisioned virtual connections capable of guaranteeing said quality of service between said user and said access server; checking whether said virtual connection can convey said bandwidth; and according to the outcome of said checking whether said virtual connection can convey said bandwidth, allowing or disallowing said data stream to be delivered over said virtual connection to said user, the method further comprising: provisioning a virtual path across said access network, the bandwidth of which being determined from a traffic load expected from said plurality of users; aggregating said plurality of virtual connections over said virtual path; disabling any connection admission control means in said access network that may prevent the aggregating said plurality of virtual connections over said virtual path; if said virtual connection conveys said bandwidth, checking additionally whether said virtual path conveys said bandwidth; and according to the outcome of said additional checking step, allowing or disallowing said data stream to be delivered over said virtual connection to said user.