Patent ID: 6205150
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a network system including a plurality of network devices, a method for scheduling a plurality of data packets of varying priorities, the method comprising of the following steps:periodically monitoring a first queue including a plurality of data packets of varying priorities on a first network device;determining a scheduling priority of data packets in the first queue;inserting higher priority data packets into a second queue;inserting lower priority data packets into a third queue;scheduling the higher priority data packets in the second queue wherein data packets in the second queue are transmitted as higher priority data packets;scheduling the lower priority data packets in the third queue with a transmission deadline, wherein the lower priority data packets are transmitted after the higher priority data packets; andpromoting a lower priority data packet in the third queue to the second queue when a transmission deadline for the lower priority data packet has expire, thereby preventing starvation of transmission time for lower priority data packets.