Patent ID: 6345039
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) traffic controlling apparatus incorporated in an ATM multiplexed transmitter, for accommodating a plurality of sound connections for transferring sound information using sound cells among sound ATM terminals and a data connection for transferring data information among data ATM terminals using RM cells including data traffic controlling cells, in an ATM line, the apparatus comprising:a transmission rate determining unit for monitoring an arriving condition of sound cells for a plurality of sound connections, the sound cells being sent from sound ATM terminals during a first cycle, for predicting a number of sound cells arriving during a second cycle, after the first cycle, and for determining a transmission rate of data traffic; a transmission rate changing unit receiving data traffic controlling cells from an ATM line, for setting a transmission rate of the data traffic controlling cells, and for transmitting data traffic controlling cells to data ATM terminals; a transmitting buffer for receiving data cells from the data ATM terminals and the sound cells from the sound ATM terminals, and for storing the data and sound cells; a transmitting circuit for transmitting the data and sound cells from the transmitting buffer; a rate calculation circuit for producing a prediction coefficient based on the number of sound connections connected simultaneously, and for calculating a transfer rate based on the prediction coefficient and the number of sound cells predicted to be arriving; an RM cell processing circuit for processing RM cells including a specified transfer rate which specifies a transfer rate of a data ATM terminal on a transmitting side; a receiving circuit for receiving the data and sound cells; and a receiving buffer for storing received data cells, wherein the RM cell processing circuit replaces the transfer rate specified in the RM cells with the transfer rate from the rate calculation circuit when the transferable transfer rate from the rate calculation circuit is smaller than the transfer rate specified in the RM cell.