Variable latency cut through bridge for forwarding packets in response to user's manual adjustment of variable latency threshold point while the bridge is operating

摘要

A variable latency cut through bridge (210) for selectively forwarding data packets (10) within a network (310) of computers (312), the variable latency cut through bridge (210) employing a variable latency bridging method wherein the latency factor of the variable latency cut through bridge (210) is set according to the position of a variable threshold point (428). The variable threshold point (428) is optionally set to within a rapid drop off portion (520) of a probability line (514) describing the probability that the data packet (10) is bad as a function of the amount of the packet (10) which has been examined within the variable latency cut through bridge (210).