Abstract:
A method for scoring queued frames (18) for selective transmission through a switch (12) includes providing one or more switches in a fibre channel fabric, particularly one or more fibre channel switches (12'). The method includes assigning an initial score (20) to the content (42) of the one or more frames (18) of data (26). The initial score (20) is adjusted by one or more alternative score components to determine one or more adjusted scores (22). The adjusted scores (22) are compared. The method also provides for selecting frames (18) having the highest adjusted scores (22) and transmitting through the switches (12) the frames (18) having the highest adjusted scores (22).
Abstract:
A system for hierarchically storing packetized data and transferring the packetized data includes an input configured to receive packets of data, a memory coupled to the input and configured to store packets of data, an output coupled to the memory and configured to transfer packets of data from the memory, and a controller coupled to the memory and configured to control the memory to store packets of data in queues associated with a hierarchy in which a first level of the hierarchy includes a group of queue group components, wherein at least one of the queue group components in the group at the first level includes a group of queue group components associated with a second level of the hierarchy that is different from the first level of the hierarchy.
Abstract:
A method of transferring between communication channels of differing bandwidth, the method including the steps of: establishing data communications on a first channel, the first channel having a first bandwidth: in response to a trigger indicating changes in the data to be communicated, establishing data communications on a second channel, the second channel having bandwidth which provides different use of resources; once data communications have been set up on the second channel, releasing the first channel.
Abstract:
Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority QoS(A), such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority QoS(B), such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. For example file transfer data is assigned lower urgency class and voice and video data is assigned higher urgency class. There are several urgency classes which indicate the desired ordering. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class by relying on class-differentiated urgency arbitration times (UATs), which are the idle time intervals required before the random backoff counter is decreased. In another embodiment packets are reclassified in real time with a scheduling algorithm that adjusts the class assigned to packets based on observed performance parameters and according to negotiated QoS-based requirements. Further, for packets assigned the same arbitration time, additional differentiation into more urgency classes is achieved in terms of the contention resolution mechanism employed, thus yielding hybrid packet prioritization methods. An Enhanced DCF Parameter Set is contained in a control packet sent by the AP to the associated stations, which contains class differentiated parameter values necessary to support the TCMA. These parameters can be changed based on different algorithms to support call admission and flow control functions and to meet the requirements of service level agreements.
Abstract:
A method of managing a DSL connection by a DSL server modem, including receiving signals from a DSL client modem at a first rate, determining, by the DSL server modem, a data content of the received signals, and initiating, by the DSL server modem, negotiation of a change in the rate of the DSL connection, responsive to the determination of the data content, so as to receive signals at a second rate different from the first rate.
Abstract:
An apparatus is equipped to receive network traffic data for network traffic routed through a number of routing devices with one or more degrees of separation from a network node. The network traffic data include at least network traffic data for network traffic destined for the network node which meet a traffic type selection criteria and are routed by the routing devices to the network node. The apparatus is further equipped to progressively regulate and de-regulate network traffic routing by the routing devices based at least in part on the received network traffic data and the degrees of separation of the routing devices from the network node. Regulation extends from routing devices with the highest degree of separation from the network node to routing devices with the lowest degree of separation from the network node to routing devices with the highest degree of separation, following in the reverse direction of the routing paths traversed by the packets to reach the network node. In one embodiment, the extension or push back is made one degree of separation at a time. In one embodiment, deregulation follows the reverse path, whereas in another embodiment, deregulation is determined and implemented locally, whenever regulation or the extent of regulation is no longer needed. In one embodiment, regulation is made in accordance with a not-to-exceed profile, and the not-to-exceed limit or limits are divided up as regulation extends away from the network node.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a method of controlling an information flow in an acyclic data transmission system. A pluraliy of data packets are received. A priority level is allocated to each packet. The priority level comprises a class of loss for the packet and a class of urgency of service for the packet. The data packets are serviced in dependence on their priority levels, wherein the data packets are output at a configured rate. An apparatus for implementing such a method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a method and apparatus of allocating priority in an information flow in a data transmission system. A plurality of data packets are received. A priority level is allocated to each data packet. Allocating a priority level may comprise simultaneously determining a class of loss for the packet and a class of urgency of service for the packet. The priority levels are preferably allocated in dependence on the current load of the information flow.
Abstract:
A communication system (10) includes a network (12) that is coupled to a number of terminals (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), at least some of which are capable of audio or other forms of real-time interactive data communications over the network (12). Each of the terminals (22, 24, 26, 28 and 30) includes a network adapter that is capable of detecting a collision with another terminal on the network (12). If a collision is detected, transmission of a data frame is aborted, and a backoff time delay is selected. The backoff time delay is selected from a group of delay periods that vary less than exponentially with a number of collisions.
Abstract:
A method for packet bypass in a communications network includes receiving a plurality of packets, determining whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet, and communicating the non-bypass packets toward a communication link. The method also includes communicating a plurality of the bypass packets toward the communication link between communication of two of the non-bypass packets.