Method and system for providing bandwidth allocation and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless network

1. A method for bandwidth management and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the method comprising:

reserving bandwidth for one or more of a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch;

in response to a communication session associated with said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch, allocating at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth for use by said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch;

utilizing said at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth during said communication session; and

utilizing at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth during at least a second communication session.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first access point and/or a second access point from one or both of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising receiving a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first and/or second switches from one or both of said first and/or second access points.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said allocating comprises allocating at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth and said at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth upon one or both of an initiation of said communication session and/or during said communication session.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reserving comprises reserving said bandwidth based on a device type of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, a second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said reserving comprises reserving said bandwidth based on a priority assigned to said device type.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising identifying said device type and said priority of said device type prior to said reservation of said bandwidth.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving bandwidth information associated with said first access device and/or a second access device, said first access point and/or a second access point and said first switch and/or a second switch from one or more of a bandwidth management process, a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, and a network management process using at least one messaging protocol message,

wherein said received bandwidth information is utilized for said allocating, and wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or said second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section for bandwidth management and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform the steps comprising:

reserving bandwidth for one or more of a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch;

in response to a communication session associated with said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch, allocating at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth for use by said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch;

utilizing said at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth during said communication session; and

utilizing at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth during at least a second communication session.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9 , comprising code for receiving a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first access point and/or a second access point from one or both of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , comprising code for receiving a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first and/or second switches from one or both of said first and/or second access points.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9 , comprising code for allocating at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth and said at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth upon one or both of an initiation of said communication session and/or during said communication session.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9 , comprising code for reserving said bandwidth based on a device type of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, a second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , comprising code for reserving said bandwidth based on a priority assigned to said device type.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 14 , comprising code for identifying said device type and said priority of said device type prior to said reservation of said bandwidth.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9 , comprising code for:

receiving bandwidth information associated with said first access device and/or a second access device, said first access point and/or a second access point and said first switch and/or a second switch from one or more of a bandwidth management process, a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, and/or a network management process using at least one messaging protocol message,

wherein said received bandwidth information is utilized for said allocating, and wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or said second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

17. A system for managing bandwidth in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the system comprising:

at least one processor that reserves bandwidth for one or more of a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch;

said at least one processor allocates at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth for use by said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch in response to a communication session associated with said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch;

said at least one processor instructs said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch to utilize said at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth during said communication session; and

said at least one processor instructs said one or more of said first access device, said first access point and/or said first switch to utilize at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth during at least a second communication session.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor receives a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first access point and/or a second access point from one or both of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said at least one processor receives a request for bandwidth by one or both of said first and/or second switches from one or both of said first and/or second access points.

20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor allocates at least a portion of said reserved bandwidth and said at least an unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth upon one or both of an initiation of said communication session and/or during said communication session.

21. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor reserves said bandwidth based on a device type of said first access device and/or a second access device, wherein one or more of said second access device, a second access point and/or a second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

22. The system according to claim 21 , wherein said at least one processor reserves said bandwidth based on a priority assigned to said device type.

23. The system according to claim 22 , wherein said at least one processor identifies said device type and said priority of said device type prior to said reservation of said bandwidth.

24. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor receives bandwidth information associated with said first access device and/or a second access device, said first access point and/or a second access point and/or said first switch and/or a second switch from one or more of a bandwidth management process, a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, and/or a network management process using at least one messaging protocol message,

wherein said received bandwidth information is utilized for said allocating, and wherein one or more of said second access device, said second access point and/or said second switch utilize said unused remaining portion of said reserved bandwidth.

25. The system according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor is one or more of a control processor, a bandwidth management controller, a quality of service controller, a load balancing controller, a session controller and/or a network management controller.