Patent ID: 6697369
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a packet communications network comprising at least one packet switch, said switch having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, a method for estimating the bandwidth required for a link connected to one of said ports through a FIFO buffer, the method comprisingfor each of a plurality of sampling windows, measuring the count of the number of cells arriving at said buffer, determining the maximum count for all sampling windows occurring during a measurement period of duration at least equal to said sampling window, determining an estimate of the bandwidth required by said link based on said maximum count, wherein said buffer has delay G, said link has a capacity L, and required Quality of Service (QoS) for said link comprises a maximum delay, G, and a cell loss ratio B, wherein said cells arriving at said buffer arrive with a maximum rate, &lgr;max, and wherein said sampling window is of duration mxTs, where Ts=TbIs,Is is an integer, and Tb=GÎ»max-L.