| 摘要 |
A computational method and apparatus allocates transmission rate to source end nodes, and both reduces the computational complexity, and reduces the state information which must be retained concerning each VC, without significantly degrading convergence properties for the network. Also, the computational method is useful with either interval based or proportional schemes of flow control. A plurality of virtual circuits is established between source end stations and destination end stations, the plurality of virtual circuits passing through an intermediate node. The source end stations transmit data packets at a plurality of discrete transmission rates. The intermediate node counts the number of virtual circuits using each of the discrete transmission rates. The intermediate node maintains an indication that a select virtual circuit has been counted in the step above, and does not count the virtual circuit more than once during a switch time interval. The intermediate node, responsive to counting the number of virtual circuits using each of the discrete transmission rates, calculates a rate allocation value for the plurality of virtual circuits, the calculation is done periodically during the switch time interval. The rate allocation value is written into the field of the data packet in order to signal to the source end station, and any intervening intermediate node, the rate allocation value calculated above.
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