Traffic shaping procedure for variable-size data units
OwnerMichael F. Fallon, Makaram Raghunandaninventors
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Abstract
Shaping data transmitted in a communication system includes determining whether to authorize transmission of received data having a variable size within a predetermined range. The determination is based on whether a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the predetermined amount being related to a rate shaping criterion, and the determination is made without regard to the size of the received data.
Claims28
A method for shaping data transmitted in a communication system, the method comprising:
- determining whether to authorize transmission of received data having a variable size within a predetermined range, the determination being based on whether a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the predetermined amount being related to a rate shaping criterion, and the determination being made without regard to the size of the received data;
- authorizing transmission if the predetermined amount has substantially elapsed;
- and
- determining, if transmission was authorized, a new value for the predetermined amount that must substantially elapse before a further transmission can be authorized.
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for shaping data transmitted in a communication system, the data having a variable size within a predetermined range, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to perform the following operations:
- determine whether to authorize transmission of the data, the determination being based on whether a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the predetermined amount being related to a rate shaping criterion, and the determination being made without regard to the size of the received data;
- authorize transmission if the predetermined amount has substantially elapsed;
- and
- determine, if transmission was authorized, a new value for the predetermined amount that must substantially elapse before a further transmission can be authorized.
An apparatus for shaping transmitted data, the apparatus comprising a programmable device programmed to perform at least the following operations:
- determine whether to authorize transmission of received data having a variable size within a predetermined range, the determination being based on whether a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the predetermined amount being related to a rate shaping criterion, and the determination being made without regard to the size of the received data;
- authorize transmission if the predetermined amount has substantially elapsed;
- and
- determine, if transmission was authorized, a new value for the predetermined amount that must substantially elapse before a further transmission can be authorized.
A communication system for shaping transmitted data, the system comprising:
- means for determining whether to authorize transmission of received data having a variable size within a predetermined range, the determination being based on whether a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the amount being related to a rate shaping criterion, and the determination being made without regard to the size of any received data;
- means for authorizing transmission if the predetermined amount has substantially elapsed;
- and
- means for determining, if transmission was authorized, a new value for the predetermined amount that must substantially elapse before a further transmission can be authorized.
A modified token-bucket method for shaping data transmitted in a flow in a communication system, the method comprising:
- providing a bucket for each flow, each bucket having a variable size depending on a size of a unit of data previously transmitted on the corresponding flow;
- accumulating tokens in each bucket at an average flow rate for the corresponding flow;
- authorizing transmission of a unit of data on a particular flow only when the corresponding bucket is full of tokens;
- and
- removing all of the tokens from the bucket for a particular flow when a unit of data is authorized for transmission on that flow.
A method for shaping data transmitted in a communication system, the method comprising:
- transmitting first data having a variable size within a predetermined range;
- waiting, after transmitting first data, until a predetermined amount of a time-based variable has substantially elapsed, the predetermined amount being related to a rate shaping criterion and to the size of the first data;
- and
- transmitting, after waiting, second data having a variable size within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.