Patent ID: 6320845
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A routing device configured for management of packet flows, the device comprising:a. at least one input port for receiving flows;b. at least one output port for transmitting flows on at least two virtual circuits;c. traffic-management means for (i) defining parameters governing transmission of packets over the virtual circuits and (ii) monitoring transmission of packets over the virtual circuits for conformance to the transmission parameters;d. prioritization means for (i) queueing packets arriving over an input port for transmission over an output port and (ii) selecting queued packets for transmission based on a selection criterion, the prioritization means interacting with the traffic-management means and postponing, for a selected time, transmission of selected packets where such transmission would violate the transmission parameters; ande. the selected time is selected in response to the priority level associated with the packet.