Patent ID: 6108303
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method, in a cell-based network, of determining compliance and non-compliance of an arriving cell k, having a time of arrival t.sub.a (k), based on a traffic contract, agreed-upon between a user and the network, and a theoretical arrival time (TAT), wherein TAT has an initial value equal to the time of arrival of a first cell t.sub.a (1) and the traffic contract includes limit parameter L, the method comprising the steps of:(a) measuring t.sub.a (k;(b) comparing TAT with t.sub.a (k) while adjusting for any rollover in t.sub.a (k) and, if TAT is less than t.sub.a (k), declaring the cell conforming and updating TAT;(c) in the event TAT is not less than t.sub.a (k), comparing TAT with t.sub.a (k)+L while adjusting for any rollover in t.sub.a (k) and, if TAT is less than or equal to t.sub.a (k)+L, declaring the cell conforming and updating TAT; and(d) in the event TAT is not less than or equal to t.sub.a (k)+L, declaring the cell non-conforming;wherein the traffic contract includes an increment parameter I and,wherein updating TAT in step (b) includes setting TAT equal to t.sub.a (k)+I and storing TAT in an n-bit counter for TAT; andwherein updating TAT in step (c) includes incrementing TAT by I and storing TAT in the n-bit counter for TAT.