Information flow control in a packet network based on variable conceptual packet lengths
There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets having a received packet length and at a received sample rate. The method and controller also includes determining a configured packet length for each data packet based on a configured service rate for each data packet. The method and controller may also include scheduling each data packet in accordance with a respective configured packet length.
1. A method of controlling an information flow in a data transmission system, comprising:
receiving a plurality of data packets having a received physical packet length and at a received sample rate; and
assigning a conceptual packet length for each data packet, the conceptual packet length being a service time for the packet, based on a determined service rate for each data packet.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising scheduling each data packet in accordance with a respective conceptual packet length.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the conceptual packet length for ones of the data packets is shorter than the respective received physical packet length.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a modified information flow by providing a variable spacing between the data packets.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a plurality of modified information flows and multiplexing the modified information flows.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the data packets are admitted to a queue based upon a length of the queue.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein a level of service is associated with each data packet in the queue.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising allocating a priority level to each data packet.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the priority level includes an indication of an urgency associated with the data packet and a level of loss tolerated for the data packet.
10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising multiplexing adjacent data packets if a conceptual packet length of one of the adjacent data packets provides a negative spacing with the other of the adjacent data packets.
11. A controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system, comprising:
input means for receiving a plurality of data packets having a received physical packet length and at a received sample rate;
means for assigning a conceptual packet length for each data packet, the conceptual packet length being a service time for the packet, based on a determined service rate for each data packet; and
output means for outputting the data packet at the determined service rate.
12. The controller as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for generating a modified information flow by providing a variable spacing between the data packets.
13. The controller as recited in claim 12 wherein the means for generating a modified information flow employs one of a random pattern and a pseudo-random pattern.
14. The controller as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for allocating a priority level to each data packet.
15. The controller as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for multiplexing a plurality of information flows having data packets at a configured service rate.
16. A controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system, comprising:
an input interface configured to receive a plurality of data packets having a received physical packet length and at a received sample rate;
a policer/shaper configured to assign a conceptual packet length for each data packet, the conceptual packet length being a service time for the packet, based on a determined service rate for each data packet; and
an output interface configured to output the data packet at the determined service rate.
17. The controller as recited in claim 16 further comprising a rate limiter configured to generate a modified information flow by providing a variable spacing between the data packets in conjunction with the policer/shaper.
18. The controller as recited in claim 17 wherein the rate limiter one of a random pattern and a pseudo-random pattern.
19. The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein the policer/shaper is configured to allocate a priority level to each data packet.
20. The controller as recited in claim 16 further comprising a cherish/urgency multiplexor configured to multiplex a plurality of information flows having data packets at a configured service rate.