Abstract: This invention is applicable to packet based, rate limited radio links, such as satellite or terrestrial wireless digital communications systems. These communications networks concurrently carry time-critical traffic, such as voice or multimedia, and non time-critical traffic, such as generic data traffic, between two or more communication end points. The communication end points may be connected through a number of heterogenous networks and the end to end throughput characteristics may vary over time. A first aspect of the invention concerns a method for generating packets. In other aspects the invention concerns a computer system for use in packet based communications, a computer protocol for packet based communications and a communications packet. The invention involves determining a “time slice” packet size from the link speed and the interval of time extending between the times at which packets are selected for output from a buffer to the transmission interface.

Abstract: A method for controlling communication between a hub and a plurality of distributed stations over a medium is disclosed.

Abstract: A packet traffic shaper (208) is disclosed, comprising determination means (404) configured to determine a constraint parameter dependent upon a probability density function, and constraining means (410, 400) configured to constrain, based upon the parameter, transmission of traffic input to said constraining means (410, 400), thereby to produce output traffic having a pre-determined entropy bound.