Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an allocation time (NS) in a scheduler (9) with a fixed number (K) of allocation times, whereby a defined allocation time of the number of allocation times is determined for a time to be allocated using a hash function, and whereby the actual progression of time is represented on this fixed number (K) of allocation times also using the hash function. A method for determining a sending time (TST) for a data cell (13) over an output line (3) of a packet oriented transmission system, particularly in accordance with the ATM standard, is advantageous when a determined sending time (TST) is entered into a scheduler (9) as the time to be allocated for the data cell (13). This advantageously ensues by using the above-mentioned method. Additional areas of application are schedulers in machine installations, switching systems in, in particular, packet-oriented communications systems or multiplexers for multiplexing data.