Variable bandwidth control system

Claim 1

A method of controlling access to a communication link by traffic types that require different fractions of transmission facilities simultaneously comprising the steps of separating arriving traffic requests into bandwidth categories of narrowband and wideband; allocating a first bandwidth portion of said link to narrowband request traffic types that require a smaller one of said fractions of transmission facilities, and allocating a second greater bandwidth portion of said link to wideband request traffic types that require a larger one of said fractions of transmission facilities; ignoring requests for said first bandwidth portion when the number of said requests is less than a minimum threshold N, where N is a positive integer; when at least N requests for said first bandwidth portion are present, deciding to serve narrowband or wideband requests by requiring that a fraction p of those decisions should favor the wideband, while the remaining 1-p should favor the narrowband; and when narrowband requests are to be served, serving narrowband requests jointly N×R at a time, or the number present if less than N×R, R representing the number of batches of N requests which can be served in parallel, but always in multiples of N; access to said communications link is permitted only when all requests in service have been completed.

Claim 2

A method of controlling access to a communication link by traffic types that require different fractions of transmission facilities simultaneously comprising the steps of separating arriving traffic requests into bandwidth categories of narrowband and wideband; allocating a first bandwidth portion of said link to narrowband request traffic types that require a smaller one of said fractions of transmission facilities, and allocating a second greater bandwidth portion of said link to wideband request traffic types that require a larger one of said fractions of transmission facilities; ignoring requests for said first bandwidth portion when the number of said requests is less than a minimum threshold N, where N is a positive integer; when at least N requests for said first bandwidth portion are present, deciding to serve narrowband or wideband requests by requiring that a fraction p of those decisions should favor the wideband, while the remaining 1-p should favor the narrowband; and when narrowband requests are to be served, serving narrowband requests jointly N×R at a time, or the number present if less than N×R, R representing the number of batches of N requests which can be served in parallel, but always in multiples of N; access to said communications link is permitted only when all requests in service have been completed.

Claim 3

A method of controlling access to a communications link by traffic types that require different fractions of transmission facilities simultaneously, said method being used in a digital cross-connect system (DCS) network that utilizes facilities rearrangements and on-demand private networks, comprising the steps of separating arriving traffic requests into bandwidth categories of narrowband and wideband; allocating a first bandwidth portion of said link to narrowband request traffic types that require a smaller one of said fractions of transmission facilities, and allocating a second greater bandwidth portion of said link to wideband request traffic types that require a larger one of said fractions of transmission facilities; ignoring requests for said first bandwidth portion when the number of said request is less than a minimum threshold N, where N is a positive integer; when at least N requests for said first bandwidth portion are present, deciding to serve narrowband or wideband requests by requiring that a fraction p of those decisions should favor the wideband, whole the remaining 1-p should favor the narrowband; and when narrowband requests are to be served, serving narrowband requests jointly N×R at a time or the number present if less than N×R, R representing the number of batches of N requests which can be served in parallel, but always in multiples of N; wherein access to said communications link is permitted only when all requests in service have been completed.

Claim 4

A method of controlling access to a communications link by traffic types that require different fractions of transmission facilities simultaneously, said method being used in a digital cross-connect system (DCS) network that utilizes facilities rearrangements and on-demand private networks, comprising the steps of separating arriving traffic requests into bandwidth categories of narrowband and wideband; allocating a first bandwidth portion of said link to narrowband request traffic types that require a smaller one of said fractions of transmission facilities, and allocating a second greater bandwidth portion of said link to wideband request traffic types that require a larger one of said fractions of transmission facilities; ignoring requests for said first bandwidth portion when the number of said request is less than a minimum threshold N, where N is a positive integer; when at least N requests for said first bandwidth portion are present, deciding to serve narrowband or wideband requests by requiring that a fraction p of those decisions should favor the wideband, whole the remaining 1-p should favor the narrowband; and when narrowband requests are to be served, serving narrowband requests jointly N×R at a time or the number present if less than N×R, R representing the number of batches of N requests which can be served in parallel, but always in multiples of N; wherein access to said communications link is permitted only when all requests in service have been completed.

Claim 5

A method of controlling access to a T1 communications link network, in a digital cross-connect system (DCS) wherein said system includes a network controller comprising the steps of separating arriving user command requests before arrival at said network controller of said link network based on the amount of bandwidth each request requires, and then rearranging said requests, in a different order from their arrival, by deferring service of one category until a minimum threshold number of request of said one category are queued for service to improve performance of said network.

Claim 6

A method of controlling access to a T1 communications link network, in a digital cross-connect system (DCS) wherein said system includes a network controller comprising the steps of separating arriving user command requests before arrival at said network controller of said link network based on the amount of bandwidth each request requires, and then rearranging said requests, in a different order from their arrival, by deferring service of one category until a minimum threshold number of request of said one category are queued for service to improve performance of said network.