Traffic management in packet communication networks having service priorities and employing effective bandwidths

A method is provided for admitting new requests for service in a shared resource having a capacity. The new request has service priority levels associated therewith. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, the shared resource may be a packet communications network and the service request may be a request to admit a new connection. The method proceeds as follows. First, for each service priority level on said shared resource, a total effective bandwidth is generated which is represented by a sum of individual effective bandwidths of previously admitted requests for service. Subsequent to receiving a new request for service having a specified priority of service level, a plurality of effective bandwidths are accessed for the new request. The plurality of effective bandwidths are respectively associated with the specified service priority level and service priority levels therebelow. The new request is admitted if, for the specified service priority level and for each service priority level therebelow, the sum of (i) said total effective bandwidth for a given service priority level and (ii) for said new request, the effective bandwidth at the given service priority is less than the capacity.