Patent ID: 6430155
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A communications-packet router comprising:A) reception circuitry for: i) receiving from a given link resource-management messages that request respective explicit rates for routes whose packets the router is to transmit into the given link; ii) receiving from at least one other link weight-assignment messages that associate respective weights with routes whose packets the router is to transmit into the given link; and iii) receiving from at least one other link data packets including respective route indicators that specify routes respectively associated therewith for forwarding by the router into the given link; and B) transmission circuitry for transmitting packets over the given link at a total link rate, the rates at which the transmission circuitry forwards data packets associated with at least some routes if the total of the explicit rates requested for the given link exceeds the total link rate being less than the explicit rates that the resource-management messages have respectively requested therefor and being substantially proportional to the weights associated therewith.