摘要 |
A network device operates to control the clumping of cells on a connection using a rate-based flow-control protocol. In each of successive intervals, a number N is calculated representing the maximum number of cells permitted to be transmitted consecutively. N is calculated as the quotient from dividing a cell delay variation tolerance (CDVT) by the difference between the reciprocal of an allowed cell rate (ACR) and the reciprocal of a link cell rate (LCR). If the calculated quotient is greater than a number NRM for the connection indicating the maximum number of data cells allowed between forward flow-control cells, then N is set equal to NRM. A value C is calculated as the largest integer factor of NRM that is no greater than N, and the interval is then divided into NRM/C sub-intervals. No more than C cells are allowed to be transmitted on the connection in each of the sub-intervals. This limit is enforced using a credit mechanism in which no more than C credits are extended to a cell transmitter in each sub-interval. |