Patent ID: 6859432

Claim:
A packet switch comprising: a memory unit for storing a flag for indicating a state of existence of a packet in a buffer memory, a peak cell rate packet interval value for restricting a read-out rate to a peak cell rate or under, and a minimum cell rate counter initial value expressed as a minimum cell rate in a way of making these parameters corresponding to every connection; a peak cell rate counter unit decremented by a predetermined value at every packet read-out timing with the peak cell rate packet interval value serving as an initial value; a minimum cell rate counter unit for retaining a value of a corresponding connection, which is decremented by a predetermined value each time the packet is read out of said buffer memory; and a read-out control unit for detecting, based on the flag, that the packet exists in said buffer memory when the packet read-out timing is reached, and setting as a read-out target the packet corresponding to a connection exhibiting a maximum value of product of the maximum cell rate packet interval value and a value retained in said minimum cell rate counter unit at that timing from at least one or more connections receiving no peak cell rate restriction, which is detected based on the maximum cell rate packet interval value.