Method and apparatus for transmitting packets in accordance with IEEE 802.1 Qbv

A network device, comprising:

• a plurality of queues, each of the plurality of queues configured to store respective frames of data having a priority level associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of queues;
• and
• a shaper configured to
• transmit, during a first portion of a transmission interval, frames of data from a first one of the plurality of queues having a highest priority level,
• block frames of data from a second one of the plurality of queues during a blocking band extending from a first time prior to a start of the transmission interval to a second time indicating the start of the transmission interval,
• determine, based on the second time and a maximum frame size to be transmitted during the transmission interval, the first time, and
• selectively transmit, subsequent to the first time and prior to the second time, frames of data from the second one of the plurality of queues based on the second time,
• wherein the shaper is configured to i) determine a size of a next one of the frames of data from the second one of the plurality of queues, ii) determine, based on the first time and the second time, a number of clock cycles available prior to the second time, and iii) selectively transmit the next one of the frames of data based on the size of the next one of the frames of data and the number of clock cycles available.