Communication network and a method of regulating the transmission of data packets in a communication network

摘要

A two-phase fairness algorithm for regulating the transmission of data packets in a communication network having a multitude of nodes connected together to form a spanning tree. In a first or broadcast phase of the fairness algorithm, a first control signal is transmitted over the spanning tree from a root node or a root edge of the tree. This first control signal indicates to each node of the tree a first number of data packets that the node is permitted to transmit in a corresponding time interval. Each intermediate node of the tree transmits the first signal to each of its children nodes only when one or more various conditions relating to the transmission of data packets are satisfied. In a second or merge phase of the fairness algorithm, a second control signal is transmitted from the leaves of the tree to the root node or root edge of the tree. Each intermediate node of the tree transmits the second signal to its parent node only after receiving the second signal from all of its children nodes and after one or more various conditions relating to the transmission of data packets from the intermediate node to its parent node are satisfied. After the root node or root edge of the tree receives the second signal from all of its or their children nodes, the algorithm is repeated.