Patent ID: 7050447

Claim:
A method for passing information over a communication network, comprising the steps of: determining the buffer size for transmitting said information over the communication network; determining a plurality of precedence levels for at least a portion of said information passing over said communication network; assigning a percentage of said buffer to each of said precedence levels, wherein the sum of said percentages may exceed 100%; receiving information, said information including data having an indication of the precedence for transmitting said information; evaluating said received data against said plurality of precedence levels; and if said indication of precedence of said received information matches one of said plurality of precedence levels, passing said information for processing in a priority buffer queue; and if said indication of precedence of said received information does not match one of said plurality of precedence levels, passing said information for processing in at least one other output queue; and transmitting any information in said priority queue before transmitting any information in said at least one other output buffer queue.