Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for providing multiple qualities of service to different virtual network connections. In one example, the method receives a token of a cell descriptor of data traffic of a virtual network connection. It is determined whether the token is in conformance with contracted bandwidth parameters of the cell descriptor to obtain a conformance status. Based on the conformance status, one of the following steps is performed: the token is inserted into a first random access memory configured to store the token for immediate output, or the token is inserted into a second random access memory configured to store the token for non-immediate output.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for inserting empty memory cells into a data flow of network connections of a computer network. In one example, the method includes receiving an insertion request for an empty memory cell to be inserted into the data flow. A base connection identification (CID) associated with the insertion request is also received. An appropriate insertion scheme for carrying out the insertion request is determined. Based on the appropriate insertion scheme, the insertion request is sent to an insertion device that is configured to insert the empty memory cell into the data flow. The memory cell is inserted prior to traffic shaping of the data flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing a virtual network connection merge. In one example, the method assembles at least one data unit from data traffic of at least one network connection. A credit is calculated for each network connection. A chosen data unit to be transmitted to an output channel is determined based on the credits of the network connections. The chosen data unit is then transmitted to the output channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for discarding a priority fair share of traffic of network connections. In one example, the method receives traffic of at least a particular network connection. A portion of a fixed buffer allocation space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the fixed buffer allocation space is associated with a fixed buffer allocation queue identification. A portion of a prioritized fair share buffer space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the prioritized fair share buffer space is associated with a priority fair share queue identification. A portion of the lowest priority traffic of the network connections is discarded.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for traffic shaping in a network switch, which provides for per-connection shaping. A Cell Descriptor (CD)-processing block and a ShapeID processing block operate to de-couple the management of the CDs from the scheduling of the CD output times. The CD-processing block outputs a token (ShapeID) to the ShapeID block. If the token is conforming, it is immediately passed back to the CD-processing block, otherwise it is processed. When the token is “mature” the token is passed back to the CD-processing block. Use of “now” and “later” lists with per-connection ShapeIDs provides priority within a virtual connection (VC) and a virtual path (VP), respectively. This effectively preserves the relative priority for connections being shaped within a VP. Also, the use of a Calendar Queue reduces the complexity of a “virtual finishing time” (VFT) calculation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for providing multiple qualities of service to different virtual network connections. In one example, the method receives a token of a cell descriptor of data traffic of a virtual network connection. It is determined whether the token is in conformance with contracted bandwidth parameters of the cell descriptor to obtain a conformance status. Based on the conformance status, one of the following steps is performed: the token is inserted into a first random access memory configured to store the token for immediate output, or the token is inserted into a second random access memory configured to store the token for non-immediate output.