Patent ID: 7944838

Claim:
A traffic control apparatus, comprising: a data buffer configured to store data sent to/from a network; a token rate determination unit configured to determine a token rate; a token generation unit configured to generate tokens in accordance with the token rate; a token buffer configured to store generated tokens; a reading unit configured to read out predetermined amount of data from the data buffer by consuming a token stored in the token buffer; a token buffer monitoring unit configured to monitor tokens stored in the token buffer; a data throughput monitoring unit configured to monitor data throughput to/from the network during a period when one or more tokens are stored in the token buffer; and a token adjustment unit configured to append tokens to the token buffer when a token empty state, in which no tokens are stored in the token buffer, continues for a first period, wherein the token rate determination unit determines a new token rate based on the data throughput monitored at the data throughput monitoring unit, and temporarily decreases the token rate, in response to the token rate being increased due to an addition of tokens by the token adjustment unit, to compensate the token rate.