Patent ID: 6208661
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of scheduling protocol data units for transmission on a virtual channel, the method comprising the steps of:determining a relative theoretical departure time for a protocol data unit to be transmitted;selecting a departure time from one of a series of immediate departure times in an immediate time domain for transmission of the protocol data unit if it is determined that the relative theoretical departure time is included in the immediate time domain and a protocol data unit has not been previously scheduled for transmission at the departure time;determining if the relative theoretical departure time corresponds to a reserved departure time in a later time domain that follows the immediate time domain if the determined relative theoretical departure time is included in the later time domain, wherein the reserved departure time is reserved from scheduling;selecting a departure time other than the reserved departure time from available departure times in the later time domain if it is determined that the relative theoretical departure time corresponds to a reserved departure time in the later time domain; andscheduling the protocol data unit for transmission during the selected departure time.