Network node for sharing a common buffer among multiple connections while ensuring minimum bandwidth for each connection

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A network node includes a single buffer connected to a transmission medium. Detection circuitry receives an incoming packet and detects the virtual connection of the received packet. Control circuitry calculates a value of delivery instant for the received packet according to a minimum bandwidth assigned to the detected virtual connection so that vacancy of the transmission medium is reduced to a minimum if the received packet were delivered from the buffer onto the transmission medium at the instant of the calculated value. The calculated value is compared with a decision threshold assigned to the detected virtual connection. The received packet is stored into the buffer if the calculated …