Method implemented in packet-switched network for scheduling the transmission of ethernet frames based on priority levels

A method implemented in a packet-switched network for scheduling transmission of Ethernet frames, the method comprising:

• a) determining a priority level of each Ethernet frame to transmit, based on identification of data given in said Ethernet frame and related to a stream to which said Ethernet frame belongs, said data distinguishing thereby:
• frames belonging to streams to be transmitted by successive cyclic bursts, and having a first priority level, a plurality of the frames corresponding to a stream in one of the successive cyclic bursts,
• frames belonging to rate controlled streams, and having a second priority level, lower than said first priority level, and
• frames belonging to non-time critical traffic streams, having a third priority level, lower than said first and second priority levels,
• b) determining, among the frames having the highest priority level, a frame, candidate for transmission, having a closest next time from a current time, at which said candidate frame is to be transmitted, and
• c) estimating an end-of-transmission time of the frame of said candidate, and checking whether another future frame having a higher priority level than the candidate does not have a next transmission time occurring before the end-of-transmission time of the candidate, and eventually transmitting the candidate.