Abstract: A network device. The network device includes an input port to receive input data and a transmission port to transmit data. The device also includes a detector to detect real-time input data and a controller to set the maximum transmission rate equal to a first traffic rate when the detector detects real-time input data. Various methods for detecting real-time data are also included.

Abstract: A method and system for routing packets, in which the resources consumed by broadcast packets are limited. Broadcast packets are placed in a separate queue that is managed independently of the buffer interface queue for non-broadcast packets. The broadcast queue is limited to a selected amount of communication bandwidth; when the amount of broadcast traffic exceeds the selected bandwidth, broadcast messages are queued and held for transmission until later (i.e., when the selected amount of bandwidth becomes available). An operator may specify a maximum number of broadcast packets to be sent in any one second period, an a maximum number of broadcast packet bytes to be sent in any one second period.