Patent ID: 9742705
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method of processing data items received at a network element in a communications network, the network element being operable to forward data items at a rate up to a forwarding rate, the forwarding rate being subject to variation; the network element having a queue for data items awaiting forwarding and having a counter associated therewith, the counter maintaining a count in dependence on which a queue metric is derivable according to a predetermined algorithm; the method comprising: updating the count at a rate dependent on the forwarding rate; further updating the count in response to receipt of data items; and signalling a measure of congestion in respect of the network element in dependence on said queue metric; the method being characterised by further comprising: determining if there has been a variation in the forwarding rate, and in response to a determination that there has been a variation in the forwarding rate: