System and method for scheduling transmission of asynchronous transfer mode cells

摘要

A system and method for scheduling the transmission of ATM cells is provided which includes two discrete processors. One processor examines the virtual channels and their traffic parameters, and calculates the times at which cells should be transmitted from each channel. The second processor manages multiple ATM network ports, performs low-level cell handling and the majority of cell switching, and transmits cells when instructed by the first.