Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for managing elements of information at a network node received from a user access node. An access node includes a user/network interface (UNI), and a core network node includes a cell filtering unit. The UNI includes a measuring unit, which measures the actual momentary bit rate of a connection between the UNI and the core node, and a priority level computing unit, which computes the priority level of each cell using the measured bit rate and an established nominal bit rate (NBR). NBR represents an expected, but not guaranteed, bit rate associated with a particular user or connection. The connection may be a real-time or a non-real-time connection. A scheduling unit of a node accepts or discards an arriving cell based on the occupancy of a real-time buffer and a non-real-time buffer provided at the node. Cells accepted by the scheduling unit are transferred to either the real-time buffer or the non-real-time buffer depending on cell type, and read out of the buffers with preference given to cells in the real-time buffer. A UNI may include two measuring units for measuring a short-term and a long-term bit rate of the connection, respectively. Packets of cells may be processed by the scheduling unit, such that if the first cell of the packet is discarded by the node, then all subsequent cells of the packet are discarded. If the first cell of a packet is accepted, then the priority of other cells of the packet may be increased.

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First Claim