Patent ID: 7383349

Claim:
A method for controlling the flow of packets within a network node comprising: receiving packets that are intended for a main queue; classifying each of said packets into at least one of a plurality of traffic classes, wherein the main queue is utilized to physically queue the plurality of traffic classes; tracking lengths of a plurality of class-specific logical queues within the main queue, each of the class-specific logical queues corresponding to one of the traffic classes; applying class-specific random early detection (RED) to each of said packets, wherein the class-specific RED is based at least in part on distinct transmission requirements of each of the plurality of traffic classes and the lengths of the class-specific logical queues; wherein applying class-specific RED further comprises: establishing the plurality of class-specific logical queues establishing queue-specific minimum and maximum thresholds and a maximum drop probability for each of said class-specific logical queues; and utilizing said queue-specific minimum and maximum thresholds and said maximum drop probability that are established for said class-specific logical queues in applying class-specific RED.