Patent ID: 6047328
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An apparatus to control transmission rates of a plurality of end stations in a computer network, the network having at least one intermediate node, the apparatus comprising:said intermediate node having a plurality of virtual circuits passing therethrough, said virtual circuits established between said end stations;said end stations transmitting data packets at a plurality of discrete transmission rates;means for said end stations to transmit a data packet containing a field having transmission rate information;means for said intermediate node to read said transmission rate information for said virtual circuits by said intermediate node detecting said transmission rate information in said field of a data packet received by said intermediate node;means in said intermediate node for counting a number of virtual circuits using each said discrete transmission rate;means in said intermediate node for maintaining an indication that a selected virtual circuit has been counted by said counting means, and for not counting said virtual circuit more than once during a switch time interval;means in said intermediate node for calculating a rate allocation value for said plurality of virtual circuits; andmeans, by said intermediate node, for writing said rate allocation value into said field of said data packet in order to signal to said end station, and any intervening intermediate node, said rate allocation value calculated by said intermediate node calculating means.