Policer with load balancing policing function

摘要

An apparatus for policing traffic in a communication network is provided. The apparatus includes a packet distributor, a plurality of policing units, and a token management unit. The packet distributor evenly distributes packets that have arrived at the apparatus. Each policing unit determines whether a packet distributed from the packet distributor is permitted to be passed or discarded in accordance with an amount of tokens remaining in a first token bucket provided for the each policing unit, and issues a token request for requesting supply of tokens when an amount of tokens remaining in the first token bucket falls below a first threshold value. The token management unit supplies tokens in units of a predetermined amount to the first token bucket for which the token request has been issued, in accordance with an amount of tokens remaining in a second bucket provided for the token management unit.