Systems and methods for managing traffic in a network using dynamic scheduling priorities

A system for managing traffic in a communication network, the system comprising:

• a plurality of queues each configured to store data packets;
• a plurality of scheduling nodes each configured to selectively process the data packets from one or more of the plurality of queues;
• a scheduler configured to schedule, using the plurality of scheduling nodes, respective transfers of the data packets from the plurality of queues, wherein
• at least one of the plurality of queues, the plurality of scheduling nodes, and the scheduler is implemented in a network processor,
• each of the plurality of scheduling nodes is assigned to one or more of the plurality of queues,
• each of the plurality of scheduling nodes and each of the plurality of queues is assigned a respective scheduling priority corresponding to a priority at which the data packets are processed, and
• the respective scheduling priorities are selectively changeable between a predetermined scheduling priority and a dynamic scheduling priority, (i) wherein, if the dynamic scheduling priority is selected, the respective scheduling priority is changeable in accordance with a priority propagated from the one or more of the plurality of queues, and (ii) wherein, if the predetermined scheduling priority is selected, the respective scheduling priority is not changeable in accordance with the priority propagated from the one or more of the plurality of queues;
• and
• an output port configured to output the data packets for transmission according to the selected one of the dynamic scheduling priority and the predetermined scheduling priority.