Patent ID: 6771653
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for providing prioritized queue management within a data transmission network node, wherein said data transmission network node supports different types of data frame traffic, said system comprising:a frame buffer for storing an incoming frame that has an identifiable frame type; a queue pre-associated with said frame type such that upon said frame arriving at said network node said queue stores a location address at which said frame is stored within said frame buffer such that said frame is maintained within said queue; a frame table for containing said queue; processing means for determining a time at which said queue forwards said frame from said frame buffer in accordance with a pre-determined sub-queue priority list; time metering means associated with said frame within said frame table for temporally assigning said frame to a virtual sub-queue among a plurality of K virtual sub-queues that are associated with said queue, wherein said sub-queues are sequentially ordered according to said predetermined sub-queue priority list such that said processing means selects a highest priority frame for forwarding from said frame buffer; and an interrupt register with positions corresponding to priority list positions that are associated with each sub-queue which contain frames having a longest storage time, wherein said priority list positions are switched from a logic 0 to a logic 1 in response to said storage time of a frame exceeds a predetermined value, such that said system is prevented from disabling forwarding of said frame.