Patent ID: 7145869

Claim:
A method for avoiding out-of-ordering of frames in a network, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one first type of queue in a network switch; providing at least one second type of queue in a network switch; receiving an incoming packet; first storing said incoming packet in said at least one first type of queue if said packet is from a first source; second storing said incoming packet in said at least one second type of queue if said packet is from a second source; sending said incoming packet to a desired destination; determining if said incoming packet is from said first source; determining if a number of packets in said at least one first type of queue is greater than a first threshold; and inserting a marker packet in said first queue of said at least one first type of queue to avoid out-of-ordering of frames if said number of packets within said first queue of said at least one first type of queue is determined to be greater than said first threshold.