Abstract: Streams of information are transmitted over corresponding channels of an information network, by associating a number of queues with the channels, enqueuing incoming descriptors representing information to be transmitted over a given channel in a queue associated with the channel, and dequeuing the descriptors from the queues by operation of a scheduler. A small and fixed-size buffer is associated with each channel, and a watermark threshold value corresponding to a minimum occupancy level is defined for each of the transmit buffers. When the occupancy of a given buffer falls below the buffer's threshold value, a corresponding watermark event signal identifying the channel associated with the buffer is produced. The watermark event signals are provided to the scheduler, and information represented by descriptors dequeued by the scheduler are delivered to corresponding buffers according to the order of the watermark event signals provided to the scheduler.

Abstract: A system for correcting errors in the transmission of data packets between a source and a receiver. The source sends data packets to the client unit and server unit. The system uses the client unit and the server unit to send a repaired packet stream to a receiver when an error is detected. The client unit detects errors in the packet stream and sends retransmission requests of the lost data packets to the server unit. The server unit retransmits the lost data packet to the client unit, which then corrects the packet stream by inserting the lost packet into the proper time order and transmitting the repaired packet stream to the receiver.