Patent ID: 8737205

Claim:
A method comprising: allocating, by a network device, received data units to a plurality of traffic classes; selecting, via the network device, at least one of a plurality of bandwidth allocation policies, the plurality of bandwidth allocation policies including: a first bandwidth allocation policy that includes a pair of weights having respective corresponding weight differences, a second bandwidth allocation policy that includes a pair of weights having respective corresponding weight ratios, and a hybrid bandwidth allocation policy that includes applying the first bandwidth allocation policy to two or more pairs of traffic classes, of the plurality of traffic classes, and applying the second bandwidth allocation policy to two or more other pairs of traffic classes, of the plurality of traffic classes; assigning, by the network device, respective weights to the plurality of traffic classes based on the selected at least one bandwidth allocation policy and one or more configurable parameters, assigning the respective weights including: determining a first pair of weights to be assigned to an adjacent pair of the plurality of traffic classes, and determining, based on a mathematical relationship associated with the first pair of weights, second pairs of weights to be assigned, respectively, to other adjacent pairs of the plurality of traffic classes; and forwarding the received data units based on the assigned weights.