Packet fluctuation absorbing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A packet fluctuation absorbing method comprising the steps of:
- receiving packets from a preceding node of a network;
temporarily retaining the packets in a buffer;
reading the respective packets from the buffer, in the order of receiving of the packets, at given time instants;
outputting the read packets to a following node of the network so as to absorb time-related fluctuations of the packets;
storing a lower limit of the buffer that is predetermined as being larger than zero; and
discarding, when the number of retained packets in the buffer is less than the stored lower limit as a result of the outputting of one of the read packets and a use count of the corresponding one of the read packets is equal to or larger than a predetermined use count upper limit, the corresponding packet in the retained packets of the buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a packet fluctuation absorbing method and apparatus of the present invention, packets from a preceding node of a network are received. The packets are temporarily retained in a buffer. The respective packets are read from the buffer in the order of receiving of the packets at given time instants. The read packets are output to a following node of the network so as to absorb time-related fluctuations of the packets. A lower limit of the buffer that is predetermined as being larger than zero is stored. When the number of retained packets in the buffer is less than the stored lower limit as a result of the outputting of one of the read packets and a use count of the corresponding one of the read packets is equal to or larger than a predetermined use count upper limit, the corresponding packet in the retained packets of the buffer is discarded.
23 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A packet fluctuation absorbing method comprising the steps of:
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receiving packets from a preceding node of a network;
temporarily retaining the packets in a buffer;
reading the respective packets from the buffer, in the order of receiving of the packets, at given time instants;
outputting the read packets to a following node of the network so as to absorb time-related fluctuations of the packets;
storing a lower limit of the buffer that is predetermined as being larger than zero; and
discarding, when the number of retained packets in the buffer is less than the stored lower limit as a result of the outputting of one of the read packets and a use count of the corresponding one of the read packets is equal to or larger than a predetermined use count upper limit, the corresponding packet in the retained packets of the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A packet fluctuation absorbing apparatus comprising:
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a packet input unit receiving packets from a preceding node of a network;
a buffer temporarily retaining the received packets;
a packet output unit reading the respective packets from the buffer, in the order of receiving of the packets, at given time instants and outputting the read packets to a following node of the network so as to absorb time-related fluctuations of the packets;
a lower limit storing unit storing a lower limit of the buffer that is predetermined as being larger than zero; and
a first discarding unit discarding, when the number of retained packets in the buffer is less than the stored lower limit as a result of the outputting of one of the read packets and a use count of the corresponding one of the read packets is equal to or larger than a predetermined use count upper limit, the corresponding packet in the retained packets of the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification