Resource Efficient Forwarding Of Guaranteed And Non-Guaranteed Data Packets

摘要

A node of a data network receives data packets (200). For at least one of the received data packets (200), the node determines whether the data packet (200) is a guaranteed data packet which is subject to a guarantee that the data packet is not dropped and not delayed by more than a certain delay limit or a non-guaranteed data packet which is not subject to the guarantee. Based on a worst case calculation of a delay experienced by a data packet forwarded by the node, the node configures a resource contingent with a maximum amount of resources which is more than a minimum amount of resources required to meet the guarantee. Further, the node assigns resources to the resource contingent and identifies resources in excess of the minimum amount as excess resources. In response to determining that the data packet (200) is anon-guaranteed data packet and determining that sufficient excess resources are present, the node forwards the data packet (200) based on the excess resources.