Abstract: A Frame Relay network must implement a rate (bandwidth) enforcement function at the access in the network so that service subscription violation by some users will not cause performance or throughput degradation of other users' service. A novel rate enforcement technique is disclosed. The new technique makes use of a "leaky bucket" algorithm in which a portion of one "leaky bucket" is set aside for high priority frames only.

Abstract: A method provides effective priority access in a system having dual unidirectional and oppositely oriented buses. The method is intended to enhance the proposed standard, DQDB Metropolitan Area Network. An effectiveness factor K is introduced to enhance the effectiveness of the priority. In one embodiment lower priority CD counters are incremented by K for each higher priority request. A second embodiment also increments lower priority RQ counters. A third embodiment increments the lower priority CD slots only for the highest request received in a given slot. A fourth embodiment also increments lower priority RQ counters. A variation provides a threshold counter for controlling the use of the effectiveness factor.