Patent ID: 6134218
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: H04J,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for detecting congestion within an ATM device, the device having at least one buffer pool, a plurality of service classes and a plurality of virtual channels, the method comprising:counting the number of cells in a buffer in a virtual channel and determining a virtual channel count;comparing said virtual channel count to a virtual channel count threshold;generating a virtual channel congestion signal if indicated by said virtual channel compare;determining a service class count by counting the number of cells in a buffer within a service class;comparing said service class count to a preset service class threshold;generating a service class congestion signal if indicated by said service class compare;determining a number of available cell buffers remaining in a buffer pool as a device count;comparing said device count to a preset device threshold;generating a device congestion signal if indicated by said device count compare; andreceiving any generated congestion signals and initiating one or more congestion management actions if one or more of said congestion signals is received.