Patent ID: 6657960
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for controlling a plurality of pipes in a computer network including at least one processor for a switch, the at least one processor having a queue, the plurality of pipes utilizing the queue for transmitting traffic through the switch, the method comprising the steps of:(a) allowing a minimum flow and a maximum flow to be set for each of the plurality of pipes; (b) determining if excess bandwidth exists for the queue; (c) linearly increasing a flow for a pipe of the plurality of pipes based on the minimum flow or the maximum flow if excess bandwidth exists and if the flow for the pipe of the plurality of pipes is less than the maximum flow for the pipe and exponentially decreasing the flow for the pipe of the plurality of pipes based on the minimum flow or the maximum flow if excess bandwidth does not exist and the flow is greater than the minimum flow for the pipe, such that the traffic through the queue is stable; wherein the flow for the pipe of the plurality of pipes is an offered rate multiplied by a transmission fraction and wherein increasing or decreasing step (c) further includes the steps of: (c1) setting the transmission fraction for the flow to be previous transmission fraction plus a first quantity if excess bandwidth exists and the flow is less than the maximum flow; and (c2) setting the transmission fraction to he the previous transmission fraction minus a second quantity if excess bandwidth does not exist and the flow is greater than the minimum flow, the second quantity being a previous flow multiplied by a constant.