US5596576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for sharing of resources
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-03
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Granted: 1997-01-21
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Expires: 2015-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A method for allocating access to a shared limited resource among a plurality of users who require access to the resource, the allocation being made such that each user is granted access to the resource at a minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user and such that the resource is available for use by any user exceeding its minimum guaranteed rate only if the resource is available, the method comprising the steps of: assigning tokens to each user at a rate determined by the minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to each user in a bank associated with each user, each bank having a finite capacity associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to a user whose associated bank has reached its capacity in a bank assigned to another user whose bank is below its capacity; and allowing a user requesting access to the resource to have access to the resource if the user has a predetermined number of tokens in its associated bank and otherwise denying access to the resource.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodolfo A. Milito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/215; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/24; H04J3/247; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/5631; H04L2012/5632; H04L2012/5636; H04L2012/5672
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for allocating access to a shared limited resource among a plurality of users who require access to said resource, said allocation being made such that each user is granted access to said resource at a minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user and such that said resource is available for use by any user exceeding its minimum guaranteed rate only if said resource is available, said method comprising the steps of: assigning tokens to each user at a rate determined by the minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to each user in a bank associated with each user, each said bank having a finite capacity associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to a user whose associated bank has reached its capacity in a bank assigned to another user whose bank is below its capacity; and allowing a user requesting access to said resource to have access to said resource if said user has a predetermined number of tokens in its associated bank and otherwise denying access to said resource.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for allocating access to a shared limited resource among a plurality of users who require access to said resource, said allocation being made such that each user is granted access to said resource at a minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user and such that said resource is available for use by any user exceeding its minimum guaranteed rate only if said resource is available, said method comprising the steps of: assigning tokens to each user at a rate determined by the minimum guaranteed rate associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to each user in a bank associated with each user, each said bank having a finite capacity associated with each user; storing tokens assigned to a user whose associated bank has reached its capacity in a bank assigned to another user whose bank is below its capacity; and allowing a user requesting access to said resource to have access to said resource if said user has a predetermined number of tokens in its associated bank and otherwise denying access to said resource.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said users are assigned different priorities and wherein said another user is selected based on said assigned priorities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of deleting a predetermined number of tokens from a bank associated with a user that is granted access to said resource.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined number of tokens is one token.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each said bank has the same predetermined finite capacity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of said banks have a different predetermined finite capacity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for allocating access to a shared resource, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing an incrementable counter for each of a plurality of users of said resource, said incrementable counter having a count; (b) incrementing the count in each counter established for each user at a rate associated with each user if said count is below a predefined maximum count associated with each user; (c) permitting a user requesting access to said resource to have access if the count in the counter established for said user requesting access is non-zero; (d) incrementing the count in a counter associated with a user whose counter is below said predefined maximum count at a rate higher than its associated rate if the count in any other counter incremented in step (b) is at its predefined maximum count.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for allocating access to a shared resource, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing an incrementable counter for each of a plurality of users of said resource, said incrementable counter having a count; (b) incrementing the count in each counter established for each user at a rate associated with each user if said count is below a predefined maximum count associated with each user; (c) permitting a user requesting access to said resource to have access if the count in the counter established for said user requesting access is non-zero; (d) incrementing the count in a counter associated with a user whose counter is below said predefined maximum count at a rate higher than its associated rate if the count in any other counter incremented in step (b) is at its predefined maximum count.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said users are assigned different priorities and wherein said user selected in step (d) is selected based on said assigned priorities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of decrementing the count in the counter established for a user requesting access if said user requesting access is granted access to said resource.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein each said user has the same associated predefined maximum count.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein at least two of said users have a different predefined maximum count.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for sharing access to a common resource among N users, where N is an integer greater than 1, comprising the steps of: assigning a rate "R i " to each of said N users, said rate indicating the minimum desired access rate for the i th user, where 1≦i≦N; storing an indicia "B i " of the eligibility of the i th user to access said common resource for each of said N users; incrementing each B i at its associated rate R i up to a predetermined limit L i assigned to each of said N users; incrementing a selected B i at a rate greater than its associated R i in the event that any other B i is at its associated limit L i , and said selected B i is not at its limit L i ; and allowing the i th user to access said common resource if its associated B i is not zero.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for sharing access to a common resource among N users, where N is an integer greater than 1, comprising the steps of: assigning a rate "R i " to each of said N users, said rate indicating the minimum desired access rate for the i th user, where 1≦i≦N; storing an indicia "B i " of the eligibility of the i th user to access said common resource for each of said N users; incrementing each B i at its associated rate R i up to a predetermined limit L i assigned to each of said N users; incrementing a selected B i at a rate greater than its associated R i in the event that any other B i is at its associated limit L i , and said selected B i is not at its limit L i ; and allowing the i th user to access said common resource if its associated B i is not zero.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of decrementing B i upon the granting of access to the ith user of said resource.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said users are assigned different priorities and wherein said selected B i is selected based on said assigned priorities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein each said user's associated limit L i has the same value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein at least two of said user's associated limits L i have different values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |