Abstract: A Unified Bandwidth Manager that functions as a high-level bandwidth manager to interface with and hierarchically manage a plurality of service-specific bandwidth reservation and session management systems is described. The Unified Bandwidth Manager includes at least a control system, and an interface for providing at least one of policy information or goal information to the control system. The control system is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated ongoing observation information from each of an associated observation reporting element. The control system uses the plurality of feedback inputs, together with the at least one policy information or goal information, to produce at least one element of outgoing control information.