System and method for latency critical quality of service using continuous bandwidth control

A buffer arbitration communication system, said system including:

• a first buffer, wherein said first buffer receives a first packet, wherein said first packet includes at least a first packet first word and a first packet second word,
• wherein said first buffer is associated with a first buffer real rank;
• a second buffer, wherein said second buffer receives a second packet, wherein said second packet includes at least one second packet word,
• wherein said second buffer is associated with a second buffer real rank;
• a data sink, wherein said data sink may receive data words from either said first buffer or said second buffer;
• a buffer rank calculator, wherein said buffer rank calculator stores said first buffer real rank and said second buffer real rank,
• wherein said first buffer real rank is increased according to a first stored decay equation for each first packet word transmitted by said first buffer to said sink,
• wherein said first buffer real rank is decreased according to a first stored recovery equation for each sink transmission cycle during which said first buffer does not transmit a first packet word to said sink, down to a minimum of a predetermined minimum rank for said first buffer,
• wherein said second buffer real rank is increased according to a second stored decay equation for each second packet word transmitted by said second buffer to said sink,
• wherein said second stored decay equation differs from said first stored decay equation,
• wherein said second buffer real rank is decreased according to a second stored recovery equation for each sink transmission cycle during which said second buffer does not transmit a second packet word to said sink, down to a minimum of a predetermined minimum rank for said second buffer
• wherein said buffer rank calculator determines a first buffer absolute rank by rounding said first buffer real rank down to the next whole integer,
• wherein said buffer rank calculator determines a second buffer absolute rank by rounding said second buffer real rank down to the next whole integer;
• and
• a buffer selector wherein said buffer selector selects which of said first buffer and said second buffer to allow to transmit words to said sink,
• wherein, when said first buffer is transmitting said first packet first word to said sink and said buffer selector determines that said second buffer absolute rank has become less than said first buffer absolute rank, said buffer selector causes said first buffer to cease transmission of said first packet prior to the transmission of said first packet second word.