Patent ID: 7274691
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for switching data packet flows with guaranteed delay and bandwidth, comprising: receiving expected packet arrival time information at a switch, wherein said expected packet arrival time information is associated with a packet flow, and wherein said expected packet arrival time information indicates an expected packet arrival time at which at least one packet associated with said packet flow is expected to be received by said switch; storing, within said switch, schedule information defining at least one packet flow schedule, wherein said schedule information defines scheduled reception and transmission times for at least one packet associated with said at least one packet flow, wherein the scheduted reception time indicates an expected packet arrival time at which said at least one packet associated with said at least one packet flow is expected to be received by said switch; receiving forwarding information associated with said packet flow, wherein said forwarding information indicates how said switch should forward a packet that arrives at said expected packet arrival time, and associating said forwarding information with said expected packet arrival time; receiving a reference packet at a reference time; determining a schedule interval start time in response to said reference time; determining said expected packet arrival time based on said expected packet arrival time information and said schedule interval start time; pre-establishing a path through said switch for a predetermined period of time that includes said expected packet arrival time; receiving a packet at said expected packet arrival time; subjecting said packet to a layer forwarding, via said pre-established path through said switch, said packet based on said forwarding information associated with said expected packet arrival time.