Patent ID: 7111091

Claim:
A device for controlling a stream of data packets, comprising: a buffer ( 2 ) adapted to receive a data packet stream from a data source ( 1 ) and to output said packet data stream with an output rate to a packet data communication network ( 7 ), a monitoring means ( 4 ) adapted to monitor a fill level of said buffer ( 2 ), a detection means ( 5 ) adapted to detect a fill level condition of said buffer ( 2 ), during which fill level condition an incoming data packet has to be discarded, and adapted to control a discarding means ( 6 ) for discarding an incoming data packet during the presence of said fill level condition, and further comprising an output rate control means ( 5 , 5 a , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ; 12 , 13 , 14 ) adapted to control an output rate adjusting means ( 3 ) which is adapted to adjust said output rate of said buffer ( 2 ), wherein said output rate control means, during the presence of said fill level condition detected by said detection means ( 5 ), issues a first control signal ( 5 a ) controlling said adjusting means ( 3 ) to increase a current output rate of said buffer to a predefined output rate and said output rate control means, in response to each non-discarded data packet received after the presence of said fill level condition detected by said detection means ( 5 ) is over, issues a second control signal ( 11 a ) controlling said adjusting means ( 3 ) to decrease a currently adjusted output rate.