Systems and methods for performing a soft-block of a queue based on a size of a remaining period of a guard band

A network device comprising

• a first queue configured to store a first frame;
• a second queue configured to store a second frame;
• a determination module configured to determine a size of the second frame;
• a counter module configured to (i) determine an amount of time remaining in a guard band, and (ii) convert the amount of time to a size representative of the time remaining in the guard band, wherein the guard band refers to a period of time leading up to a window, and wherein the first frame is scheduled to be forwarded from the first queue during the window;
• a comparison module configured to (i) compare the size of the second frame to the size representative of the time remaining in the guard band, and (ii) generate a result based on the comparison;
• a first blocking shaper configured to, based on the result, determine whether to permit or block transmission of the second frame during the guard band;
• a queue gating module configured to generate a first bit, wherein the first bit indicates a permitted transmission state of the second queue;
• a first logic module configured to (i) compare the first bit to a second bit, and (ii) generate an output signal, wherein the second bit indicates that the frame is in the second queue;
• and
• a second logic module configured to generate a pass signal based on (i) the output signal, and (ii) the result of the comparison, wherein the pass signal indicates whether transmission of the second frame is permitted during the guard band.