Hierarchical flow-characterizing multiplexor

A hierarchical multiplexing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a protocol data unit (PDU) associated with one of a plurality of flows;
• sequentially processing the PDU at each of three or more hierarchical levels, said processing at each of the hierarchical levels comprising the step of gating the PDU characterizing the flow at a current hierarchical level;
• additionally gating the PDU based upon the character of the flow at the second hierarchical level, wherein the additional gating includes employing a plurality of measure/mark modules to measure how much data is flowing per given time period;
• mapping the a plurality of flows between each of the hierarchical levels;
• applying a color to the PDUs of the flows based upon traffic parameters specific to those flows at a second hierarchical level;
• and
• outputting the gated PDU and the additionally gated PDU in a single stream via the hierarchical multiplexor if the PDU is passed at each of the plurality of hierarchical levels.

A packet processing method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a protocol data unit (PDU) associated with one of a plurality of flows;
• sequentially processing the PDU at each of a plurality of hierarchical levels, said processing at each of the plurality of hierarchical levels consisting of:
• characterizing the flow at a current hierarchical level;
• gating the PDU based upon the character of the flow at the current hierarchical level, wherein the gating includes applying a color to the PDUs of the flows based upon traffic parameters specific to those flows at a second hierarchical level;
• additionally gating the PDU based upon the character of the flow at the second hierarchical level, wherein the additional gating includes employing a plurality of measure/mark modules to measure how much data is flowing per given time period;
• and
• outputting the gated PDU and the additionally gated PDU in a single stream via a hierarchical multiplexor if the PDU is passed at each of the plurality of hierarchical levels.

A hierarchical multiplexor comprising:

• an input channel for receiving a protocol data unit (PDU) associated with one of a plurality of flows;
• a plurality of hierarchical levels, each hierarchical level consisting of:
• means for characterizing the flow at the hierarchical level;
• means for gating the PDU based upon the character of the flow at the hierarchical level, wherein the gating includes applying a color to the PDUs of the flows based upon traffic parameters specific to those flows at a second hierarchical level;
• means for additionally gating the PDU based upon the character of the flow at the second hierarchical level, wherein the additional gating includes employing a plurality of measure/mark modules to measure how much data is flowing per given time period;
• and
• means for mapping the PDU to a flow at the next hierarchical level;
• and
• an output channel for transmitting the gated PDU and the additionally gated PDU in a single stream via the hierarchical multiplexor if the PDU is passed at each of the plurality of hierarchical levels.

A hierarchical multiplexor for processing a protocol data unit (PDU) associated with one of a plurality of flows, the hierarchical multiplexor comprising:

• a plurality of hierarchical levels for performing gating operations, each hierarchical level consisting of:
• a meter for measuring the flow rate at the hierarchical level;
• a gate for discarding the PDU based upon the flow rate at the hierarchical level wherein the gate applies a color to the PDUs of the flows based upon traffic parameters specific to those flows at a second hierarchical level;
• an additional gate for discarding the PDU based upon the flow rate at the hierarchical level, wherein the additional gate includes a plurality of measure/mark modules to measure how much data is flowing per given time period;
• and
• a last hierarchical level comprising a queue for buffering the gated PDU and the additionally gated PDU in a single stream via a hierarchical multiplexor prior to transmission.