Patent ID: 6466582
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
For use with a frame relay switching system having a plurality of frame relay channel units coupled to respective access lines for associated user equipments, and multiplexing data from said access lines onto an aggregate data communication link having a limited bandwidth less than the cumulative data capacity of said access lines, and an arbitration link through which said frame relay channel units share arbitration information representative of their right to transmit over said limited bandwidth aggregate data communication link, a method of arbitrating the allocation of said limited bandwidth aggregate data communication link among said access lines comprising the steps of:(a) in response to a request from an access line to transmit data supplied thereby over said limited bandwidth aggregate data communication link, generating an arbitration code that includes information representative of whether its associated access line has data to be transmitted, and an arbitration value based upon queuing delay of data supplied by said associated access line and information customized for said associated access line; (b) coupling said arbitration codes generated in step (a) to said arbitration link; (c) determining which channel unit has priority to transmit data over said limited bandwidth aggregate data communication link in accordance with arbitration codes coupled to said arbitration link; and (d) selectively granting said channel unit the right to transmit data provided by its associated access line over said limited bandwidth aggregate data communication link, in response to its arbitration code being representative that said associated access line has transmission priority over all other access lines of said plurality.