Method of, and a heterogeneous network for, transmitting data packets

1. A method of transmitting data packets over an interface between first and second heterogeneous parts, the method comprising the steps of:

after transmission of the data packets begins, determining, in the first part or interface, a number of data packets being transmitted in a predetermined time; and

reserving, in the second part, sufficient information carrying capacity, corresponding to at least one data packet in excess of the number determined, wherein said transmission occurs in consecutive cycles, said at least one amounting to a quantity that differs depending upon whether said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at the commencement of transmission an amount of information carrying capacity reserved in the second part corresponds to that reserved in the first part, and wherein the amount of information carrying capacity reserved is reduced during transmission to at least one packet in excess of the number determined.

3. A heterogeneous network comprising:

a first and a second heterogeneous parts; and

an interface between the said parts,

wherein the first part has means for transmitting data packets and the first part or interface has means for, after transmission of the data packets begins, determining a number of data packets being transmitted in a predetermined time, and the second part has means for receiving the data packets transmitted by the first part and means for reserving sufficient information carrying capacity corresponding to at least one data packet in excess of the number determined, wherein said transmission occurs in consecutive cycles, said at least one amounting to a quantity that differs depending upon whether said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

4. A heterogeneous network as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said means for reserving initially reserves in the second part the same amount of information carrying capacity as is reserved in the first part and is responsive to signals indicating the number of data packets being transmitted for reducing the amount of information carrying capacity to at least one data packet in excess of the number determined.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for a buffer of said first part over at least one time period whose duration equals that of said predetermined time, said cycles fill said buffer faster than said buffer is emptied in transmitting to said second part, and wherein, for at least one other time period whose duration equals that of said predetermined time, said cycles fill said buffer slower than said buffer is emptied in transmitting to said second part, said determining and said reserving being performed both for said at least one time period as said predetermined time period and for a consecutively following time period as said predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmission delivers, to said first part, more than one of said data packets per cycle and sends, from said first part to said second part, an integral number of said data packets per cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said more than one entails part of data packet so that said more than one amounts to a non-integral number of said data packets.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data packets are of equal size, and said reserving comprises multiplying a sum of said number and one by said size if said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data packets are of equal size, and said reserving comprises multiplying a sum of said number and two by said size if said predetermined time is not synchronized to said cycles.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said quantity is one if said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said quantity if two if said predetermined time is not synchronized to said cycles.

12. The network of claim 3 , wherein, for a buffer of said first part over at least one time period whose duration equals that of said predetermined time, said cycles fill said buffer faster than said buffer is emptied in transmitting to said second part, and wherein, for at least one other time period whose duration equals that of said predetermined time, said cycles fill said buffer slower than said buffer is emptied in transmitting to said second part, said determining and said reserving being performed both for said at least one time period as said predetermined time period and for a consecutively following time period as said predetermined time period.

13. The network of claim 3 , wherein transmission delivers, to said first part, more than one of said data packets per cycle and sends, from said first part to said second part, an integral number of said data packets per cycle.

14. The network of claim 13 , wherein said more than one entails part of data packet so that said more than one amounts to a non-integral number of said data packets.

15. The network of claim 3 , wherein said data packets are of equal size, and said reserving comprises multiplying a sum of said number and one by said size if said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

16. The network of claim 3 , wherein said data packets are of equal size, and said reserving comprises multiplying a sum of said number and two by said size if said predetermined time is not synchronized to said cycles.

17. The network of claim 3 , wherein said quantity is one if said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles.

18. The network of claim 3 , wherein said quantity if two if said predetermined time is not synchronized to said cycles.

19. A network comprising:

a first and a second parts; and

an interface between the said parts,

wherein the first part has a transmitter for transmitting data packets and the first part or interface is configured for, after transmission of the data packets begins, determining a number of data packets being transmitted in a predetermined time, and the second part is configured for receiving the data packets transmitted by the first part and for reserving sufficient information carrying capacity corresponding to at least one data packet in excess of the number determined, wherein said transmission occurs in consecutive cycles, said at least one amounting to one if said predetermined time is synchronized to said cycles, and amounting to two if said predetermined time is not synchronized to said cycles.

20. The network of claim 19 , wherein transmission delivers, to said first part, more than one of said data packets per cycle and sends, from said first part to said second part an integral number of said data packets per cycle.