Method and apparatus for controlling cell transmission rate in a cell based network in the presence of congestion

摘要

A cell based network (100) for transmitting cells (118), including data cells and control cells at predetermined cell rates from at least one user source (102) in a virtual connection, VC (110), through at least one switch (120) and at least one transmission link (130) in the network to at least one user destination (104) employs a method for controlling a user source (102) transmission cell rate in the presence of congestion in the VC (110). The calculation of a Fair.sub.-- Share value of the Explicit Rate (ER) that is written into a backward control cell takes place only in the presence of congestion at either an Ingress Switch Port (141) or on an Egress Physical Port (162) connected to the Switch (120).