ATM CELL SPACING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR

摘要

A method for spacing ATM cells passing through an ATM switch and transmitted by ATM sources multiplexing various profiles for one or more networks having a predetermined rate. The method comprises the steps of aggregating (1) the sources transmitting cells to a single network and conferring to the sources a general standard profile (CBR or VBR), a predetermined priority being allocated to said sources; taking into account (2) the priorities of each source to enable predetermined service qualities to be provided; combining (3) sources multiplexing CBR or VBR profiles to give a source having a generally VBR or CBR profile, while maintaining the features of sources with a CBR profile in the case of a generally VBR profile; dividing (4) the pass-band of the physical link carrying the flow of outbound cells between the VBR and CBR profiles, and allocating the rest of the pass-band unused by said VBR and CBR profiles to so-called complementary sources with a UBR profile; and adapting (5) the rate of the sources with a generally VBR or CBR profile to that of a predetermined physical link through which the outbound cells must pass to reach a predetermined network. The method is applicable to the smoothing function of an ATM chipset in particular.