Packet scheduling using a programmable weighted fair queuing scheduler that employs deficit round robin

A data packet scheduler comprising:

• a packet length storage unit configured to store a length of a data packet to be transmitted;
• an interface scheduler, connected to the packet length storage, configured to select a port from a plurality of ports from which to transmit the data packet;
• a configuration register configured to selectively enable and disable partial packet transmissions;
• and
• a priority scheduler, connected to the interface scheduler, configured to select a flow for the data packet, transmit the entire data packet to the port in accordance with a selected flow of the data packet, when the partial packet transmissions are disabled, transmit a portion of the data packet to the port in accordance with the selected flow of the data packet, when the partial packet transmissions are enabled, and to push an untransmitted portion of the data packet back into the packet length storage unit, wherein the priority scheduler includes a strict priority (SP) scheduler and a weighted deficit round robin (DRR) scheduler.