Method and system for communication session bandwidth control based on actual bandwidth usage
A method and system for allocating bandwidth among communication sessions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes performing a first allocation to a first communication session and performing a second allocation to a second communication session. The method includes performing a reallocation of bandwidth from the first communication session to the second communication session based on a predetermined criteria.
1. A method for allocating bandwidth in a communications system that includes a plurality of user equipment, each of the plurality of user equipment being communicatively connected, during a communication session, to a multimedia collaboration server and configured to receive and transmit video and audio data, the multimedia collaboration server allocating a bandwidth to the corresponding communication session of each of the plurality of user equipment, the method comprising:
performing a first allocation of bandwidth to a first communication session; and
performing a reallocation of bandwidth from the first communication session to a second communication session based at least in part on a criterion;
the criterion being a probability that an effective bandwidth of all communication sessions of the plurality of user equipment exceeds a threshold value;
the effective bandwidth being bandwidth actually used;
the probability being calculated based on an average of the effective bandwidth over time;
an amount of bandwidth reallocated from the first communication session to the second communication session being a fraction of a difference between the first allocation and an effective bandwidth used by the first communication session before the reallocation; and
the effective bandwidth being associated with a mean value of a random variable and the first allocation being the mean value plus a multiple of a standard deviation of the random variable.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reallocation of bandwidth includes reducing bandwidth allocated to the first session by removing an optional enhanced attribute of service to the first communication session.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enhanced attribute of service is associated with at least one of a first video frame rate, a video data rate, a video resolution, a video signal to noise ratio, and a first audio data rate.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reallocation of bandwidth includes increasing bandwidth allocated to the second communication session by adding an optional enhanced attribute of service to the second communication session.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of bandwidth reallocated is based on a maximum acceptable cost and a maximum acceptable probability of default associated with a communication session.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probability is based on at least one of a likelihood that a user will mute audio data, a likelihood that a user will suppress video data, and a likelihood that images will not be sent upstream.
7. A method for allocating bandwidth in a communication system that includes a plurality of users equipment connected during a communication session via a multimedia collaboration server, each user equipment being configured to receive and transmit video and audio data, the server allocating a bandwidth to each of one or more simultaneous communication sessions, the method comprising:
performing a first allocation of bandwidth to a first communication session; and
performing a reallocation of bandwidth from the first communication session to a second communication session based at least in part on a criterion,
the amount of bandwidth reallocated from the first communication session to the second communication session being a fraction of a difference between the first allocation and an effective bandwidth used by the first communication session before the reallocation, and
the effective bandwidth being associated with a mean value of a random variable and the first allocation is the mean value plus a multiple of a standard deviation of the random variable.
8. A multimedia collaboration server in a communication network, the multimedia collaboration server comprising:
a memory, the memory storing committed bandwidth, effective bandwidth, and residual bandwidth values for each of a plurality of communication sessions;
a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to:
store committed bandwidths, effective bandwidths, and residual bandwidths in the memory;
determine a residual bandwidth that is a difference between a committed bandwidth for a first session of the plurality of communication sessions and an effective bandwidth for the first session; and
allocate a fraction of the residual bandwidth to a second session of the plurality of communication sessions based at least in part on a criterion;
the criterion being a probability that an effective bandwidth of all communication sessions of the plurality of communication sessions exceeds a threshold value;
the effective bandwidth being bandwidth actually used; and
the probability being calculated based on an average of the effective bandwidth over time;
the fraction of the residual bandwidth allocated to the second session being a fraction of a difference between a first allocation to the first session and an effective bandwidth used by the first session before allocation to the second session; and
the effective bandwidth being associated with a mean value of a random variable and the first allocation being the mean value plus a multiple of a standard deviation of the random variable.
9. The multimedia collaboration server of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to partition a bandwidth request received upon admission of a user to a session into a minimum required bandwidth and an optional bandwidth.
10. The multimedia collaboration server of claim 9 , wherein the optional bandwidth corresponds to an enhanced service layer.
11. The multimedia collaboration server of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced service layer corresponds to a specified data rate.
12. The multimedia collaboration server of claim 8 , wherein the criterion further includes a probability of default.
13. The multimedia collaboration server of claim 8 , wherein the criterion further includes a cost associated with the allocation.
14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of allocating bandwidth, the method comprising:
determining a residual bandwidth associated with a first communication session; and
allocating a fraction of the residual bandwidth to at least a second communication session based at least in part on a criterion;
the criterion being a probability that an effective bandwidth of all communication sessions exceeds a threshold value;
the effective bandwidth being bandwidth actually used; and
the probability being calculated based on an average of the effective bandwidth over time;
the fraction of the residual bandwidth allocated to the second communication session being a fraction of a difference between a first allocation to the first communication session and an effective bandwidth used by the first communication session before allocation to the second communication session; and
the effective bandwidth being associated with a mean value of a random variable and the first allocation being the mean value plus a multiple of a standard deviation of the random variable.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the criterion further includes a cost associated with reducing a quality of service level assigned to the first session.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the criterion further includes a probability of default of the second session.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the criterion further includes at least one of a likelihood of a user choosing a lower bandwidth service and a likelihood of a user choosing a higher bandwidth service.