Network device for packet switching in accordance with a bounded end-to-end delay, and method of operating the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a network device (1) for packet switching in accordance with a bounded end-to-end delay. The network device comprises a plurality (11) of n first-in first-out, FIFO, queues, being servable in accordance with a round-robin based service policy and a fixed packet processing time (T). A respective queue of the plurality is associated with a bounded delay (Dmax) depending on the service policy of the plurality of queues and being a function of an adaptable buffer capacity (Be) of the respective queue. The network device further comprises a processor (12), being configured to determine a threshold crossing of an extent of reservation of the buffer capacity of the respective queue; and to adapt the buffer capacity of the respective queue in accordance with the determined threshold crossing. This enables network devices of a network to trade off QoS and capacity locally in a distributed manner, without a centralized controller.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.