Method for prioritizing, selectively discarding, and multiplexing differing traffic type fast packets

摘要

A queueing and dequeueing mechanism for use in an integrated fast packet network, wherein fast packets from differing traffic types are multiplexed with one another through use of a weighted round-robin bandwidth allocation mechanism (517). Fast packets within a particular traffic type are selected for transmission through use of a head of line priority service (514), a packet discard mechanism (516), or both. The weighted round-robin bandwidth allocation mechanism functions, in part, based upon a credit counter for each queue group that represents a particular traffic type.