Abstract: An apparatus for use in a packet-based communication system, comprises an input and an output. The apparatus is configured to receive a stream of data packets, having an inter-packet spacing, and store the received data packets and information representing the inter-packet spacing in a buffer, wherein the data packets are no longer than a common maximum data-packet length. The apparatus is further configured to schedule, at intervals, all the contents of the buffer except for a constant amount, into a respective container of a sequence of containers and, if the container then contains an incomplete data packet, schedule the remainder of the incomplete packet into the container. The apparatus is further configured to send the sequence of containers, wherein the positions of the data packets within the containers depend on the received inter-packet spacing, and wherein the constant amount is equal to or greater than the common maximum data-packet length.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a packet-based communication system, comprises an input and an output. The apparatus is configured to receive a stream of data packets, having an inter-packet spacing, and store the received data packets and information representing the inter-packet spacing in a buffer, wherein the data packets are no longer than a common maximum data-packet length. The apparatus is further configured to schedule, at intervals, all the contents of the buffer except for a constant amount, into a respective container of a sequence of containers and, if the container then contains an incomplete data packet, schedule the remainder of the incomplete packet into the container. The apparatus is further configured to send the sequence of containers, wherein the positions of the data packets within the containers depend on the received inter-packet spacing, and wherein the constant amount is equal to or greater than the common maximum data-packet length.

Abstract: A network node comprises an optical input, an optical output, a random-access queue and processing system. It receives a data packet, at the optical input and determines whether to process it as a guaranteed-service packet or as a statistically-multiplexed packet. A guaranteed-service packet is output within a predetermined maximum time of receipt, optionally within a data container comprising container control information. A statistically-multiplexed packet is queued. The node determines a set of statistically-multiplexed packets that would fit a gap between two guaranteed-service packets; selects one of the packets; and outputs it between the two guaranteed-service packets.

Abstract: A network node comprises an optical input, an optical output, a random-access queue and processing system. It receives a data packet, at the optical input and determines whether to process it as a guaranteed-service packet or as a statistically-multiplexed packet. A guaranteed-service packet is output within a predetermined maximum time of receipt, optionally within a data container comprising container control information. A statistically-multiplexed packet is queued. The node determines a set of statistically-multiplexed packets that would fit a gap between two guaranteed-service packets; selects one of the packets; and outputs it between the two guaranteed-service packets.

Abstract: A network node comprises an optical input, an optical output, a random-access queue and a processing system. It receives a data packet, at the optical input and determines whether to process it as a guaranteed-service packet or as a statistically-multiplexed packet. A guaranteed-service packet is output within a predetermined maximum time of receipt, optionally within a data container comprising container control information. A statistically-multiplexed packet is queued. The node determines a set of statistically-multiplexed packets that would fit a gap between two guaranteed-service packets; selects one of the packets; and outputs it between the two guaranteed-service packets.

Abstract: A network node comprises an optical input, an optical output, a random-access queue and a processing system. It receives a data packet, at the optical input and determines whether to process it as a guaranteed-service packet or as a statistically-multiplexed packet. A guaranteed-service packet is output within a predetermined maximum time of receipt, optionally within a data container comprising container control information. A statistically-multiplexed packet is queued. The node determines a set of statistically-multiplexed packets that would fit a gap between two guaranteed-service packets; selects one of the packets; and outputs it between the two guaranteed-service packets.