Abstract

A queue control system is disclosed for use in connection with the transfer of information, in the form of information transfer units, in a digital network. The network provides a plurality of service rate classes, based on, for example transmission rates for the various paths. The information buffer control subsystem includes a information transfer unit receiver, a information transfer unit buffer and a group controller. The information transfer unit receiver receives the information transfer units, and the buffer is provided to buffer the received information transfer units prior to transmission. The group controller controls the buffering of information transfer units received by the information transfer unit receiver in the buffer. In that operation, the group controller aggregates the information transfer units for each path in the buffer according to respective service rate classes, in particular aggregating the information transfer units for each path in a queue and further aggregating the queues for the paths associated with each service rate class in a queue. A transmission scheduler is also disclosed for use in transferring information, in the form of information transfer units, each associated with a path, in a digital network. The network provides a plurality of service rate classes, based on, for example, transmission rates for the various paths. The information transfer units for each path in a path queue, and the path queues for the paths associated with each service rate class are aggregated in a service rate queue. The transmission scheduler includes a information transfer unit selector for selecting from among the service rate queues, one path queue to provide a information transfer unit for transmission, and a information transfer unit transmitter for transmitting the information transfer unit provided by the selected path queue.