Patent ID: 8842540

Claim:
A method of operating a packet buffer, the packet buffer operable to accept multiple flows of packets, wherein an average queue length (AQL) value of said packet buffer is calculated, said method comprising: comparing the AQL with a first threshold, wherein a packet drop rate remains unchanged as long as the AQL is less than the first threshold; tracking a first timer representative of a time since a latest buffer overflow event, a second timer representative of a time since the buffer was last empty, and a third timer representative of a time since a packet loss was last triggered by an active queue management (AQM) decision; and updating the packet drop rate if said AQL is greater than said first threshold and comparison with said first timer indicates that within a given time no buffer overflow has occurred, and comparison with said second timer indicates that within a given time the buffer has not been empty or comparison with said third timer indicates that within a given time there has been at least one packet loss triggered by said AQM decision.