Traffic control method and traffic control system for controlling cell traffic in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network

A traffic control method for controlling traffic characteristics of fixed-length information units provided to a divided system through a physical transmission channel in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network, comprising the steps of:

• assigning an identification number to each of the information units to identify the information units, each identification number defining traffic characteristics of the information units;
• providing the information units to the divided system while a sequence of information units assigned a same identification number maintains the traffic characteristics imposed thereon;
• changing the identification number assigned to the sequence of information units in the divided system to at least one other identification number, thereby changing the traffic characteristics of the sequence of information units;
• monitoring the information units provided to the divided system at an outlet of the divided system to determine whether the sequence of information units having the changed identification number in the divided system maintains the traffic characteristics imposed thereon;
• storing a portion of the information units to be transmitted from the divided system until the traffic characteristics imposed thereon are satisfied when the sequence of information units having the changed identification number in the divided system violates the traffic characteristics imposed thereon;
• and
• transmitting the stored portion of the information units from the divided system to another divided system after the traffic characteristics imposed on the sequence of information units having the changed identification number in the divided system are satisfied.

A traffic control system for controlling traffic characteristics of fixed-length information units and transmitting the information units one after another in an asynchronous transfer mode communication network, comprising:

• a plurality of divided systems, arranged in series in the asynchronous transfer mode communication network, for relaying the information units;
• a plurality of information flow regulating sections, respectively arranged at an inlet of each of the divided systems, for respectively monitoring information units provided to each of the divided systems to determine whether the information units are transmitted while maintaining traffic characteristics imposed on a flow of information units and rejecting information units which violate the traffic characteristics;
• and
• a plurality of information flow shaping sections, respectively arranged at an outlet of each of the divided systems, for respectively monitoring the information units provided from each of the divided systems to determine whether or not the information units are transmitted while keeping traffic characteristics imposed on a flow of the information units and storing information units which violate the traffic characteristics until the flow of the information units maintains the traffic characteristics.