Patent ID: 7197023

Claim:
A method of controlling the sending of data blocks pertaining to a plurality of temporary block flows to terminals on a number L of physical channels dedicated to packet mode transmission of data, L being a number at least equal to 1, wherein each physical channel has successive periods each intended for sending one block, the method comprising the steps of: determining transmission throughputs respectively allocated to the block flows as a function of transmission throughputs respectively requested when creating the flows; allotting to each new flow created at least one logical traffic channel supported by one of the L physical channels; and selecting, for each send period on a physical channel, a block flow to which a logical traffic channel supported by said physical channel is allotted so as to control sending of a block of the selected flow in said send period, the flow selection being governed by the values of the transmission throughputs allocated to the flows to which logical traffic channels supported by said physical channel are allotted, wherein the terminals are distributed into a plurality of subscription classes corresponding to different priority levels, wherein with each subscription class is associated a throughput restriction parameter representing a proportion of the overall throughput requested for the block flows to terminals of said class, and wherein the transmission throughputs allocated to the flows are so determined as to take account of the proportions represented by the restriction parameters in case of insufficiency of the physical channels dedicated to the packet mode relative to the total throughput requested for the block flows.