Control of consecutive packet loss in a packet buffer

A packet buffer circuit for producing a desired consecutive packet loss, comprising:

• a buffer storage means for receiving incoming packets and transmitting departing packets, said buffer storage means generating at least one buffer state signal to indicate an overflow condition and receiving a dropping pointer signal to indicate the location of a packet to be dropped;
• and
• a dropping pointer generator, connected to said buffer storage means, for receiving said at least one buffer state signal and for generating, in response to said at least one buffer state signal, a dropping pointer signal, according to a state transition rule selected to produce said desired consecutive packet loss.

A packet switched system having an interconnected plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of said plurality of nodes includes a buffer circuit for producing a desired consecutive packet loss, wherein said buffer circuit includes:

• a buffer storage means for receiving incoming packets and transmitting departing packets, said buffer storage means generating at least one buffer state signal to indicate an overflow condition and receiving a dropping pointer signal to indicate the location of a packet to be dropped;
• and
• a dropping pointer generator, connected to said buffer storage means, for receiving said at least one buffer state signal and for generating, in response to said at least one buffer state signal, a dropping pointer signal, according to a state transition rule selected to produce said desired consecutive packet loss.

A method for producing a desired average packet gap size in a packet buffer, wherein the desired average packet gap size is determined by the type of information in the packet buffer, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an arriving packet at said packet buffer;
• and
• dropping one of said arriving packet and a packet at a predetermined position in said packet buffer indicated by a pointer at the time of an overflow, wherein said predetermined position can be any position within said packet buffer and is determined by the desired average packet gap size.