Abstract: A method for handling traffic in a communication network includes setting an aggregate limit on a total rate of transmission of information by a group of flows to be transmitted over the network, and setting a respective individual limit on an individual rate of transmission by each of the flows in the group. When the information carried by packets in any given one of the flows is in excess of the respective individual limit, the packets in excess of the respective individual limit in the given one of the flows are tagged with a first excess flow tag. When the total rate of transmission of the information is in excess of the aggregate limit, the packets in excess of the aggregate limit are tagged with a second excess flow tag. Resources in the network are allocated to convey the packets responsive to the first and second excess flow tags.

Abstract: A method for controlling data transmission over a network includes receiving a succession of data packets from a packet input at a potentially variable input rate, each packet in the succession potentially having a respective, non-uniform packet size. For each of the packets in the succession, the respective packet size is compared to a transmission credit allocated to the input. If the allocated credit is sufficient, compared to the respective packet size, the packet is transmitted over the network at a peak transmission rate predetermined by the network. If the allocated credit is insufficient, compared to the respective size, at least a portion of the packet is transmitted over the network at a rate no greater than a sustainable transmission rate predetermined by the network, which sustainable transmission rate is less than the peak transmission rate.

Abstract: A method for handling traffic in a communication network includes setting an aggregate limit on a total rate of transmission of information by a group of flows to be transmitted over the network, and setting a respective individual limit on an individual rate of transmission by each of the flows in the group. When the information carried by packets in any given one of the flows is in excess of the respective individual limit, the packets in excess of the respective individual limit in the given one of the flows are tagged with a first excess flow tag. When the total rate of transmission of the information is in excess of the aggregate limit, the packets in excess of the aggregate limit are tagged with a second excess flow tag. Resources in the network are allocated to convey the packets responsive to the first and second excess flow tags.