Packet scheduling in a communications system

A scheduling method for providing bandwidth to entities in a communications system, comprising the steps of:

• ascertaining an associated quality of service (QoS) for each flow of a plurality of flows;
• updating a guaranteed rate backlog memory and a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) backlog memory for each flow of said plurality of flows;
• calculating a guaranteed rate transfer rate for said plurality of flows;
• calculating a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) transfer rate for said plurality of flows;
• assigning bandwidth to each flow of said plurality of flows responsive to (i) said guaranteed rate transfer rate;
• (ii) said weighted fair queuing (WFQ) transfer rate;
• and (iii) said guaranteed rate backlog memory, said weighted fair queuing (WFQ) backlog memory, and said associated quality of service (QoS) for said each flow of said plurality of flows;
• and
• scoring each bandwidth distribution option of a plurality of bandwidth distribution options responsive to (i) said associated quality of service (QoS) for said each flow of said plurality of flows and said guaranteed rate transfer rate and (ii) said associated quality of service (QoS) for said each flow of said plurality of flows and said weighted fair queuing (WFQ) transfer rate.

A method for allocating channel resources in a communications system, comprising the steps of:

• ascertaining a quality of service class for each logical channel of a plurality of logical channels;
• ascertaining a guaranteed rate for said each logical channel;
• ascertaining a queue fill level for said each logical channel;
• calculating a first and a second score for each of a plurality of transport format combinations of a transport format combination set;
• selecting a transport format combination of said plurality of transport format combinations that has a highest first score.

A method for providing bandwidth to entitles in a communications system, comprising the step of:

• determining a quality of service (QoS) class that is associated with each channel of a plurality of channels;
• determining a guaranteed rate transmission rate for said each channel;
• determining a queue fill level of a queue that corresponds to said each channel;
• calculating a first score for said each channel responsive to said quality of service (QoS) class, said guaranteed rate transmission rate, and said queue fill level;
• selecting at least one bandwidth distribution option from said plurality of bandwidth distribution options by determining a highest third score and said at least one bandwidth distribution option corresponding thereto;
• and
• if said at least one bandwidth distribution option corresponds to more than one bandwidth distribution option, selecting a bandwidth distribution option from said at least one bandwidth distribution option that corresponds to a highest fourth score.

A receiver entity for providing bandwidth to a plurality of transmitter entities in a communications system, comprising:

• a plurality of buffers, each buffer of said plurality of buffers being associated with a quality of service (QoS) level and a guaranteed rate transfer rate, said each buffer including one or more packets defining a queue fill level;
• a scheduler, said scheduler in operative communication with said plurality of buffers to receive said quality of service (QoS), said guaranteed rate transfer rate, and said queue fill level, said each buffer transmitting at least one packet of said one or more packets in accordance with at least one instruction from said scheduler, said scheduler configured to:
• calculate a channel score responsive to said quality of service (QoS), said guaranteed rate transfer rate, and said queue fill level for said each buffer;
• calculate a channel bonus score responsive to said guaranteed rate transfer rate and said queue fill level for said each buffer;
• and
• assign bandwidth via said at least one instruction to said each buffer of said plurality of buffers responsive to said channel score for said each buffer and said channel bonus score for said each buffer.

A scheduling method for providing bandwidth to entities in a communications system, comprising the steps of:

• calculating a plurality of first scores, each first score of said plurality of first scores corresponding to a bandwidth distribution option of a plurality of bandwidth distribution options, said plurality of first scores calculated responsive to Quality of Service (QoS) levels;
• calculating a plurality of second scores, each second score of said plurality of second scores corresponding to a bandwidth distribution option of said plurality of bandwidth distribution options;
• determining whether there is a highest first score from among said plurality of first scores;
• if so, selecting the bandwidth distribution option corresponding to said highest first score;
• if not,
• identifying a group of second scores from said plurality of second scores that correspond to a group of first scores that are higher than all other first scores of said plurality of first scores;
• and
• selecting the bandwidth distribution option corresponding to a highest second score from said group of second scores.

A method for allocating channel resources in a communications system, comprising the steps of:

• ascertaining a quality of service class for each logical channel of a plurality of logical channels;
• ascertaining a guaranteed rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels, wherein said step of ascertaining a guaranteed rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels comprises the step of ascertaining said guaranteed rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels in accordance with the following equation:
• rate_i=weight_i/(sum_of_all_active_weights)*maximum_rate,
• where said rate_i comprises a respective said guaranteed rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels, said weight_i comprises a respective fair queuing rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels, said sum_of_all_active_weights comprises a sum of said respective fair queuing rates for said each logical channel for all active logical channels of said plurality of logical channels, and said maximum_rate comprises a maximum possible transmission rate;
• and
• assigning bandwidth to said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels responsive to said quality of service class and said guaranteed rate for respective ones of said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels.

A method for allocating channel resources in a communications system, comprising the steps of:

• ascertaining a quality of service class for each logical channel of a plurality of logical channels;
• ascertaining a guaranteed rate for said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels based, at least in part, on an equation, said equation including a product of a maximum rate and a ratio, said ratio being a quotient of a weight of a respective one of said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels and a total weight of said plurality of logical channels;
• and
• assigning bandwidth to respective ones of said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels responsive to said quality of service class and said guaranteed rate for said respective ones of said each logical channel of said plurality of logical channels.