Patent ID: 6272109
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A hierarchical method of scheduling, over a plurality of cell transmit times asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell traffic for transmission over an ATM link supporting a plurality of virtual path connections that may utilize bandwidth on the ATM link, the method comprising:for each respective cell transmit time:(a) identifying one virtual path connection that is assigned to the respective cell transmit time, the identified one virtual path connection being one of the plurality of virtual path connections on the ATM link;(b) determining if there is a virtual circuit connection, from among a plurality of virtual circuit connections associated with the identified one virtual path connection, having a high priority service that is assigned to the respective cell transmit time, and if so determined, presenting an opportunity to transmit an ATM cell for the determined high priority service virtual circuit connection over the ATM link in the respective cell transmit time;(c) identifying at least one available bit rate (ABR) service virtual circuit connection, from among a plurality of available bit rate service virtual circuit connections associated with the one virtual path connection, associated with the respective cell transmit time; and(d) if no ATM cell was transmitted for a high priority service virtual circuit connection in the respective cell transmit time, scheduling transmission of an ATM cell for the identified available bit rate service virtual circuit connection over the ATM link in the respective cell transmit time.