Time-division multiplexing scheduler and scheduling device

A time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheduling device, comprising:

• a TDM scheduler including:
• N current count value generators configured to serve N packet transmission requester groups respectively, and generate N current count values according to parameters of the N packet transmission requester groups, a previous scheduling result, and a predetermined counting rule, wherein the N is an integer greater than one;
• and
• an earliest due date (EDD) scheduler configured to generate a current scheduling result according to the N current count values and a predetermined urgency decision rule, wherein the previous scheduling result is generated by the EDD scheduler prior to generation of the current scheduling result;
• and
• a transmission port scheduler including:
• N scheduling circuits configured to serve the N packet transmission requester groups respectively, wherein each of the N packet transmission requester groups includes one or more transmission ports, a first group of the N packet transmission requester groups is served by one of the N scheduling circuits which selects a target transmission port of the one or more transmission ports of the first group, the first group is any of the N packet transmission requester groups, and the N scheduling circuits select N target transmission ports in total;
• and
• a multiplexer configured to output a transmission port selection signal according to the current scheduling result indicative of a top-priority group of the N packet transmission requester groups, wherein the transmission port selection signal indicates that one of the N target transmission ports is selected as a select transmission port for the top-priority group, the select transmission port is one of M transmission port(s) of the top-priority group and allowed to transmit, and the M is a positive integer.