Rate Shaping For Wireless Communication Using Token Bucket That Allows Token Debt

摘要

A modified token bucket algorithm in a rate shaping function of a wireless communication network allows for the “borrowing” of tokens, creating the possibility of a token debt, or a token bucket with a negative Token Bucket Counter (TBC) value. In this modified algorithm, an incoming packet is passed along so long as the TBC is positive, even if the packet must “borrow” some tokens, driving the TBC negative. Subsequent incoming packets are stalled until the TBC reaches a positive value. In one embodiment, the modified token bucket algorithm is not applied to a separate rate shaper, but rather to a queue size limiter that operates with a scheduler on a single queue. The inventive scheduler and queue size limiter deliver fewer, larger packets for transmission, allowing for more efficient packing within transmission frames (reducing or eliminating required padding), and allowing other traffic to be scheduled, thus increasing system throughput.