Patent ID: 8532104

Claim:
A communication apparatus, comprising: a plurality of first queues to which priorities or predetermined bandwidths are assigned respectively, the plurality of first queues being in a first layer of hierarchy; a plurality of second queues which are connected to one of the plurality of the first queues in a series connection, the plurality of second queues being in a second layer of hierarchy which is different than the first layer of hierarchy, each second queue of the plurality of second queues having a priority assigned thereto, respectively; and a controller which: writes data blocks into the plurality of second queues and at least one of the plurality of first queues which is not connected to the second queues in accordance with a rule; reads the data blocks stored in the plurality of second queues in order of the priorities assigned to the second queues respectively, and writes the data blocks read from the plurality of second queues into the one of the plurality of first queues which is connected to the second queues in the series connection; and reads the data blocks stored in the plurality of first queues in order of the priorities assigned to the first queues respectively or at time intervals corresponding to the bandwidths assigned to the first queues respectively, and transmits the data blocks to a communication network.