Increment scheduler

A system for transmitting ATM cells comprising:

• an ATM network along which ATM cells are transmitted;
• S sources where S≧1 and is an integer, each source connected to the network and produces ATM cells for transmission on the network;
• D destinations where D≧1 and is an integer, each destination connected to the network and produces ATM cells for transmission on the network, each destination receiving ATM cells from the network;
• a server connected to the ATM network;
• and
• a scheduler having R different rate bins for holding sessions, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 2, said scheduler for scheduling service by the server among the R different rate bins, with precision P, where P is an integer and the number of bits assigned for precision, said scheduler connected to said server, each rate bin holds sessions within a predetermined range of rates, each rate bin having a different predetermined range of rates.

A method for providing service by a server to sessions comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first session having a rate at a scheduler;
• placing the first session into a rate bin of R rate bins which has a rate corresponding to the rate of the session;
• receiving a second session having a rate at the scheduler;
• placing the second session into the rate bin;
• providing service by the server to the first session;
• determining whether the first session still requires more than a predetermined amount of service from the server if the first session does require more than the predetermined amount of service from the server;
• providing service to the first session again in the next service round that the server provides service to the rate bin;
• and
• providing service to the second session with the server if the first session requires less than a predetermined amount of service from the server.