Traffic multiplexing using timestamping

An apparatus for multiplexing data units from a plurality of inputs onto an output having a transmission capacity less than the sum of the inputs, the apparatus comprising:

• a separate queue associated with each input, the queues operative to enqueue the data units from the associated inputs;
• a clock circuit configured to associate a time-stamp with each enqueued data unit indicating time of receipt relative to other enqueued data units;
• and
• a scheduler configured to select and forward for a given forwarding clock cycle the data unit having the earliest time-stamp, whereby a proportionally equal number of packets are dropped from each non-empty queue during a period of congestion.

A method for multiplexing data units from a plurality of inputs onto an output having a transmission capacity less than the sum of the inputs, the method comprising the steps of:

• enqueueing a received data unit in one of a plurality of separate queues, each associated with a separate input;
• associating a time-stamp with the enqueued data unit indicating time of receipt relative to other enqueued data units;
• and
• selecting and forwarding for a given forwarding clock cycle the data unit having the earliest time-stamp,
• whereby a proportionally equal number of packets are dropped from each non-empty queue in the plurality of queues during a period of congestion.