A system and method of setting up a multi-user communication session over a
global computer network are provided. The method includes first sending a
session participation request message from a first user to a second user,
where the session participation request message includes the first user's
QoS requirements for the session. The second user then sends a negotiating
message to the first user in response to receiving the session
participation request message, where the negotiation message includes the
second user's QoS requirements for the session responsive to the first
user's QoS requirements. The resource availability in access networks of
the first and second users according to the second user's QoS requirements
is determined, and resources in the respective access networks of the
first and second users are then reserved in response to resources being
available to achieve the second user's QoS requirements. The first user
thereafter sends an acknowledgement message to the second user in response
to receiving the negotiating message to indicate the completion of QoS
provisioning.