Abstract: Controlling congestion in a networking device having a plurality of input interface queues comprises estimating, in each of one or more sampling states, a data arrival rate for each of the plurality of input interface queues with respect to incoming data packets received on corresponding input interfaces, obtaining a set of estimated arrival rates for the plurality of the input interface queues, determining, for each polling state associated with a respective sampling state, the sequence in which the plurality of input interface queues should be polled using the set of estimated data arrival rates of the plurality of input interface queues, and polling the plurality of interface queues in accordance with the determined sequence. The sequence indicates when, during a single polling cycle, each of the input interface queues should be polled in relation to every other of the input interface queues.

Abstract: The congestion control in a networking device having a plurality of input interface queues includes (a) estimating the data arrival rate on each of the plurality of input interface queues, and (b) determining, for each polling round, the sequence in which the plurality of input interface queues should be polled and the quantity of data to be processed from each of the plurality of input interface queues each time the input interface queue is polled, using the estimated data arrival rate on each of the plurality of input interface queues.

Abstract: A mechanism conveys information pertaining to transmission priority (TP) levels of inbound packets transmitted over a heterogeneous network from a switching node to a hybrid node of the network. The mechanism comprises a packet-recognizing filter having a format that is generated by the hybrid node and dynamically transmitted to the switching node over a predefined communication channel of the network. The filter enables the switching node to classify the inbound packets and assign them appropriate TP levels.

Abstract: A technique efficiently captures information required to create a filter used by switching nodes of a heterogeneous network to implement transmission priority routing of data traffic over a connection network between end nodes of the network. A bounded time interval, i.e., a time window, is established during which a first switching node monitors the traffic over the network to capture portions of the required information contained in a defined data packet. Monitoring of data traffic during the time window is triggered by a predictable event, the occurrence of which is communicated to the first switching node by a hybrid node of the network. In addition to providing this "triggering" communication, the hybrid node also provides the first switching node with the remaining portion of the required information.

Abstract: A mechanism conveys information pertaining to transmission priority (TP) levels of inbound packets transmitted over a heterogeneous network from a switching node to a hybrid node of the network. The mechanism comprises a packet-recognizing filter having a format that is generated by the hybrid node and dynamically transmitted to the switching node over a predefined communication channel of the network. The filter enables the switching node to classify the inbound packets and assign them appropriate TP levels.

Abstract: A mechanism limits the flow of topology information to only those nodes of a computer network that require the information. The mechanism comprises a filter having a plurality of conditions that are evaluated by a node of the network prior to forwarding the topology information to another node. Specifically, the conditions are evaluated with respect to lists of nodes that are defined according to the configuration of the network. By applying the filtering conditions to the defined lists, each node may selectively propagate the topology information throughout the network, thereby substantially reducing the amount of information flowing over the network.

Abstract: A technique maintains priority of packets transmitted over a heterogeneous network by a hybrid node coupled to the network. The hybrid node assigns each packet a transmission priority (TP) level as it traverses protocol layers of a communications stack of the node. An application programming interface extension provides a tagging mechanism for conveying the TP levels from higher protocol layers of the stack to lower layers. The TP levels are then converted to information that is "tagged" to the packets and these tagged packets are then apportioned among a plurality of communication sessions based on the TP level assigned to each packet. The tagged packets and their associated sessions preserve the priority and order of the packets across the heterogeneous network.

Abstract: A mechanism conveys information pertaining to transmission priority (TP) levels of inbound packets transmitted over a heterogeneous network from a switching node to a hybrid node of the network. The mechanism comprises a packet-recognizing filter having a format that is generated by the hybrid node and dynamically transmitted to the switching node over a predefined communication channel of the network. The filter enables the switching node to classify the inbound packets and assign them appropriate TP levels.