RECEIVING NODE IN A PACKET COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A BUFFER IN A RECEIVING NODE IN A PACKET COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

摘要

A receiving node (102) for receiving data packets in a packet communications system comprises a buffer (104) for storing data packets received at the receiving node (102) and for releasing the stored data packets to an application element (106) of the receiving node (102). A buffer window (204) defines a time period in which data packets are received at the buffer (104). A position of the buffer window is moved in time periodically, and a stored data packet is released when it is at an end (203) of the buffer window (204). The receiving node (102) further comprises a packet delay determining element (112) for determining, for each received data packet, a delay of a received data packet by determining the difference between an estimated time of arrival of a data packet at the receiving node and an actual time of arrival of the data packet at the receiving node, a delay processing element (114) for determining an average of the determined delays of a plurality of data packets and for determining when a change in the determined average is greater than a first threshold (Z1 ), and a buffer window adjusting element (116) for adjusting at a first rate a position of the buffer window by a first amount dependent on the determined average of the determined delays and for switching to adjust a position of the buffer window at a second rate by a second amount dependent on the determined average when a change in the determined average is greater than the first threshold. The second rate is greater than the first rate.