Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-06-12
Olms, Douglas (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S395430, C370S429000, C370S444000, C370S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246691
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a circuit configuration for the transmission of message units associated with message streams of different priority, jointly through one transmission channel. Such a method and such a circuit configuration are already known from German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 197 05 789 A1.
That method and that circuit configuration are intended to solve the problem of allowing the transmission lines in an ATM system and the buffer storage devices respectively associated therewith to be utilized efficiently. To that end, the invention provides that, in the case of a buffer storage device which is filled to a specific level, when a message cell which is associated with a virtual connection of relatively high priority arrives on the respective transmission line, one or more of the message cells (which are currently stored in the buffer storage device) of a selected virtual connection of low priority is or are discarded as a function of the number of lower priority stored message cells for that virtual connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,900 discloses a method for the transmission of message units which are associated with message streams of different priority and traffic class, jointly through one transmission channel. In that method:
the message units associated with the respective message stream each pass through a queue which is specific to the priority and traffic class;
the queues are combined on the basis of their traffic classes to form queue groups; and
the queue groups are each controlled by a separate queue control device in such a manner that queues are combined to form partner queue groups which are specific to the traffic class, where they have priorities that differ for the same traffic class.
An article entitled “Methodologies for bandwidth allocation, transmission scheduling, and congestion avoidance in broadband ATM networks”, by K. Sriram, in Computer Networks and ISDN Systems 26, 1993, pages 43-59 discloses an operating strategy for message streams of different priority through a joint transmission channel. In that device, a plurality of queues are controlled on the basis of their priority in such a manner that one queue is exclusively prioritized with respect to the remaining queues, in that transmission of message units from one of the remaining message units is allowed only in the case where no message units can be transmitted from that queue with maximum priority.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and a circuit configuration for the transmission of message units in message streams of different priority, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods and devices of this general type and which additionally ensure throughput guarantees while taking account of priorities for the message streams.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for the transmission of message units associated with message streams of different priority, jointly through one transmission channel, which comprises passing message units associated with a respective message stream through a queue specific to the message stream; combining the queues on the basis of priorities of the message streams each passing through them to form queue groups; controlling each of the queue groups with a separate queue control device, for combining at least each two of the queue groups to form a partner queue group; and controlling the queue groups associated with a partner queue group for transferring a transmission capability from a relevant queue group to one of remaining queue groups in the respective partner queue group, if no message unit can currently be transmitted from one of the queue groups.
In accordance with another mode of the invention, there is provided a method which comprises transmitting the message units in the form of message cells in the course of virtual connections, by using an asynchronous transfer mode; and assigning one of the queues to each of the virtual connections.
In accordance with a further mode of the invention, there is provided a method which comprises transmitting the message units in the form of data packets in the course of message streams, by using a packet-switching principle, and assigning one of the queues to each of the message streams.
In accordance with an added mode of the invention, there is provided a method which comprises combining the queues through which message streams of equal priority pass, to form queue groups.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a circuit configuration for the transmission of message units associated with message streams of different priority, jointly through one transmission channel, the circuit configuration comprising queues each being specific to a respective message stream for conducting message units associated with the respective message stream; queue groups formed of the queues combined on the basis of priorities of the message streams each passing through them; separate queue control devices for controlling each of the queue groups; at least two of the queue groups each combined to form a partner queue group; and a monitoring device for controlling the queue groups belonging to a partner queue group, to transfer a transmission capability from a relevant queue group to a remaining queue group in the respective partner queue group, if no message unit can currently be transmitted from one of the queue groups.
The invention in this case results in the advantage that the following performance features can be provided with relatively little control complexity and with relatively little circuit complexity:
1. Individual minimum bit rates are guaranteed for each message cell stream irrespective of its priority.
2. A bit rate which exceeds the sum of the throughput guarantees is allocated strictly on the basis of the priority of the message cell streams, that is to say the message cell streams of high priority (1) are assigned first, and if there are none of these to be transmitted, only then are the message cell streams of lower priority (2) assigned.
3. If the minimum bit rate is not fully utilized by one of the message cell streams, then this bit rate can be made available to other message cell streams.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and a circuit configuration for the transmission of message units in message streams of different priority, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5121383 (1992-06-01), Golestani
patent: 5231633 (1993-07-01), Hluchyj et al.
patent: 5268900 (1993-12-01), Hluchyj et al.
patent: 5920572 (1999-07-01), Washington et al.
patent: 5926478 (1999-07-01), Ghaibeh et al.
patent: 195 48 985 A1 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 197 05 789 A1 (1998-09-01), None
“Queueing Disciplines for Integrated Fast Packet Network” (Hluchyj et al.), IEEE 1992, pp. 990-996.
“Methodologies for Bandwith Allocation, Transmission Scheduling, and Congestion Avoidance in Broadband ATM Networks”, (Sriram), 8213 Computer Networks 26, Sep. 1993, No. 1, pp. 43-59.
Briem Uwe
Wallmeier Eugen
Greenber Laurence A.
Hom Shick
Lerner Herbert L.
Olms Douglas
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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