Method and system for weighted fair queuing

A data scheduler for a communications network, the communications network having a plurality of data sources, the scheduler comprising:

• a processor including classification logic configured to classify each data source as one of an eligible data source and an ineligible data source;
• a credit balance credit counter configured to maintain a credit balance of available credits;
• credit allocation logic configured to allocate credits from the credit balance to eligible data sources;
• data source credit counters configured to maintain a respective credit count for each eligible data source;
• queue maintenance logic configured to maintain a plurality of queues, each queue having a respective priority level defined according to a corresponding credit count requirement;
• queue assignment logic configured to assign each data source to a respective queue, the respective queue having a credit count requirement met by the credit count of the data source;
• data source selection logic configured to select at least one data source for dequeuing according to the priority levels of the queues to which the data sources are assigned;
• credit transfer logic configured to transfer a number of credits from the credit count for the at least one selected data source to the credit balance, the number of credits corresponding to an amount of data dequeued;
• the classification logic being configured to reclassify an eligible data source as an ineligible data source;
• and
• the credit transfer logic being configured to transfer the credit count for the reclassified data source to the credit balance.