Patent ID: 6400688
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for consolidating backward resource management cells in an available bit rate point-to-multipoint tree including a root, a plurality of leaves and a branch point interconnected between said root and said leaves, said method comprising the steps of:(a) resetting congestion information memory devices which store congestion information from the backward resource management cells; (b) determining for each incoming return backward resource management cell to the branch point whether the branch point has received a return backward resource management cell from a predetermined number of candidates in a candidate set of candidate-branches, wherein if the branch point has received a return backward resource management cell from the predetermined number of candidates in the candidate set then advancing to step (f); (c) consolidating in the congestion information memory devices congestion information from the incoming return backward resource management cell with the congestion information in the congestion information memory devices; (d) discarding the incoming return backward resource management cell; (e) repeating the processing beginning with step (b); (f) consolidating in the incoming return backward resource management cell congestion information from the incoming return backward resource management cell with the congestion information in the congestion memories; (g) passing back the consolidated incoming return backward resource management cell to the root; and (h) repeating the process beginning with step (a).