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Method and apparatus for re-ordering data packets in a network environment

  • US 6,246,684 B1
  • Filed: 12/24/1997
  • Issued: 06/12/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for manipulating data traffic units transmitted in a network to reduce a level of miss-ordering of the data traffic units, said apparatus comprising:

  • a) an input for receiving a stream of data traffic units in a potentially miss-ordered condition, each data traffic unit being associated to a respective sequence number;

    b) a re-ordering queue for receiving the data traffic units;

    c) a processing unit in an operative relationship with said re-ordering queue, said processing unit is operative for;

    i) reordering the data traffic units in the re-ordering queue on a basis of the sequence number of each data traffic Unit for reducing a level of miss-ordering of the data traffic units;

    ii) applying to the data traffic units in the re-ordering queue a first selection operation, the first selection operation being characterized by a minimal time delay variable that defines a minimal residence time of a data traffic unit prior to release of the data traffic unit from said re-ordering queue, the first selection operation being applied to locate a potential data traffic unit having a sequence number indicating that the data traffic unit precedes all the other data traffic units in said re-ordering queue and having a residence time exceeding the minimal time delay variable;

    iii) applying to the data traffic units in the re-ordering queue a second selection operation, the second selection operation being characterized by a maximal time delay variable that defines a maximal residence time of a data traffic unit prior to release of the data traffic unit from said re-ordering queue, the second selection operation being applied to locate a potential data traffic unit having a residence time exceeding the maximal time delay variable irrespective of the sequence number of the data traffic unit;

    d) an output for releasing data traffic units located by the either one of the first and the second selection operations.

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