Importance

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Abstract

The transfer of data packets are monitored in a line having various logical channels. For each logical channel there is a count value and at the arrival of a data packet, or in each time slot when the transmission on said line is time multiplexed, i.e., for each time when a packet could have arrived in a time multiplexed system, only the count value for a single channel is decremented. Then it is determined whether the received data packet, if there is one, is to be forwarded or is to be discarded by the comparison of a calculated value (F.sub.n) to a threshold value (T.sub.n) belonging to the channel to which the packet belongs. In the calculation of the value (F.sub.n), the number is used of those channels which have not been decremented after decrementing the channel to which the received packet belongs. In this way, the calculated value (F.sub.n) can be made to resemble the calculated value or level value, which is used in prior methods for handling loss of packets in a network. For each received packet this method requires only a decrementing of one count value, implying a significant saving of time and a simplification of the circuits used for carrying out the method.

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First Claim