Scalable, high-resolution asynchronous transfer mode traffic shaper and method

A method of performing traffic shaping with a traffic shaper coupled to n VCs, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) sequentially receiving n shaping interval time (SITn) signals in a shaper controller and a shaper core in the traffic shaper;
• b) accessing one parameter value (Pn) per SITn signal from a parameter memory;
• c) accessing one bucket value (Bn) per SITn signal from a bucket memory;
• d) performing a leaky bucket algorithm in said shaper core using said Pn value and said transmitted Bn value;
• e) generating a signal identifying whether a cell request should be granted based on said leaky bucket algorithm;
• f) generating an updated Bn value in said shaper core based on said leaky bucket algorithm;
• and
• g) replacing a current Bn value with said updated Bn value in said bucket memory.

A traffic shaper in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, said traffic shaper comprising:

• a shaper controller;
• a shaper core coupled to said shaper controller;
• parameter storage coupled to said shaper controller and said shaper core;
• and
• bucket storage coupled to said shaper controller and said shaper core.