WO1998031156A2

WO1998031156A2 - Method and system for dynamic allocation of bandwidth in asynchronous transfer mode (atm) switching systems

Info

Publication number: WO1998031156A2
Application number: PCT/US1998/000781
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teunis J. Ott
Original assignee: Bell Communications Research, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-01-14
Filing date: 1998-01-14
Publication date: 1998-07-16
Also published as: CA2278317A1; EP0960513A2; WO1998031156A3; KR20000070154A; JP2000508500A; AU5919398A

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for dynamically adjusting the total bandwidth that an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system (105) can make available to Available Bit Rate (ABR) virtual circuits by determining the total bandwidth allocated to the inactive ABR virtual circuits in the switching system (105), and making available the bandwidth allocated to the inactive ABR virtual circuits to the active ABR virtual circuits in the switching system (105). When transmission of cells resumes for an inactive ABR virtual circuit, the switching system allocates new bandwidth to the virtual circuit. Furthermore, the switching system (105) dynamically adjusts the total bandwidth that the switching system (105) can make available to ABR virtual circuits by recomputing, at fixed time intervals, the total bandwidth that is available to the active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at the switching system (105).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF BANDWIDTH IN ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE (ATM) SWITCHING SYSTEMS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for dynamically allocating bandwidth to Available Bit Rate (ABR) virtual circuits in ATM switching systems.

In an ATM network, a virtual source (VS) transmits data in the form of fixed sized cells to a virtual destination (VD) through a connection (referred to as virtual circuit) established between the virtual source and the virtual destination. The virtual source and virtual destination may be a telephone, video equipment, facsimile, computer, edge-router, edge-switch, etc. The cells may include any type of digitized information, including audio, computer data, video, multimedia, Internet data, etc. For example, in a network that uses Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over ATM, a virtual source may be an edge-router at the entry to an ATM network. An entry edge-router segments the incoming TCP/IP data packets into one or more ATM cells before transmitting each cell to the ATM network. Similarly, a virtual destination may be an edge router at the exit of the ATM network. An exit edge-router reassembles incoming ATM cells into TCP/IP data packets before transmitting each packet to its destination.

When establishing a virtual circuit through an ATM network, a virtual source can select one of five different categories of service: Constant Bit rate (CBR),

Variable Bit Rate - Real Time (VBR-RT), Variable Bit Rate - Non Real Time (VBR- NRT), Available Bit Rate (ABR), and Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR). ATM Forum Traffic Management Standard af-tm-0056.00 describes each of these services. The ABR service determines excess bandwidth in the network and uses network management methods to reallocate the excess bandwidth among the virtual circuits in the network to reduce network congestion and cell loss. In negotiating an ABR virtual circuit, a virtual source negotiates a peak cell rate (PCR) and a minimum cell rate (MCR) with the ATM network. PCR is the maximum cell rate a virtual circuit can support. MCR is the minimum cell rate that a virtual source requires a virtual circuit to support. The ABR service uses the negotiated PCR and MCR parameters to provide a guaranteed quality of service concerning bandwidth availability and cell loss in a virtual circuit.

When a virtual source selects the ABR service, the virtual source periodically generates a resource management (RM) cell to get feedback from the network on the rate at which the virtual source can transmit cells on a virtual circuit without causing loss of cells due to network congestion. Typically, a virtual source generates an RM cell for every thirty-one cells it transmits or at the expiration of a fixed time interval, whichever occurs first. The network processes the RM cell, updates virtual circuit bandwidth information in the RM cell, and returns the RM cell to the virtual source. The virtual source then dynamically adjusts its rate of cell transmission based on the bandwidth information contained in the RM cell.

An RM cell generated by a virtual source is referred to as a Forward RM cell. The Forward RM cell passes through one or more switching systems in the network before reaching a virtual destination. The virtual destination processes the Forward RM cell and returns a Backward RM cell to the virtual source. The Backward RM cell passes through one or more switching systems in the network before reaching the virtual source.

A virtual source maintains the MCR, current Allowed Cell Rate (ACR), and the PCR associated with the virtual circuit. ACR is the rate at which the network allows the virtual source to transmit cells on a virtual circuit. When a virtual source receives a Backward RM cell, based on the bandwidth information in the Backward

RM cell, the virtual source computes a new ACR. Consequently, ACR dynamically changes as the network traffic changes and as the virtual source receives feedback from the network.

A Forward RM cell includes an MCR field, current cell rate (CCR) field, and an explicit rate (ER) field. CCR is the rate at which a virtual source is transmitting cells on a virtual circuit at the time the virtual source generates a Forward RM cell. ER is the rate at which the virtual source wishes to transmit cells on a virtual circuit. A virtual source cannot set the ER field in a Forward RM cell to be greater than PCR. After generating a Forward RM cell and setting the MCR, CCR, and ER fields in the Forward RM cell, the virtual source transmits the Forward RM cell to the network.

When a virtual source transmits a Forward RM cell, the Forward RM cell passes through each switching system on the path of the virtual circuit to the virtual destination. Each switching system on the path can either keep the ER in Forward RM cell the same or decrease the ER to a lower rate. However, according to ATM Forum Traffic Management Standard af-tm-0056.00, a switching system cannot decrease the ER below the MCR for the virtual circuit. Furthermore, a switching system cannot increase the ER for the virtual circuit. A switching system that allocates bandwidth to a virtual source by setting the ER field in an RM cell is referred to as an ABR Explicit Rate (ABR-ER) switching system.

When a Forward RM cell associated with a virtual circuit arrives at an ABR- ER switching system, the switching system determines an upper threshold (referred to as "Cutoff) for the bandwidth that can be made available to the virtual circuit in the switching system. If the switching system determines that the computed Cutoff for the virtual circuit sets the ACR in the virtual source (i.e, the switching system computes the smallest Cutoff among all of the switching systems on the path of the virtual circuit), then the switching system considers the virtual circuit to be

"bottlenecked here" or bottlenecked in the switching system. If the switching system determines that the computed Cutoff does not set the ACR in the virtual source (i.e, the switching system does not compute the smallest Cutoff among all of the switching systems on the path of the virtual circuit), then the switching system identifies the virtual circuit as "bottlenecked elsewhere."

The switching system determines a new bandwidth that it can allocate to the virtual circuit by determining a new ER for the virtual circuit and setting the new ER in the Forward RM cell. The switching system then determines an estimated rate (Exp_Rate) at which the switching system "expects" the virtual source to transmit data cells after the virtual source adjusts its ACR based on the newly set ER. Finally, the switching system sends the Forward RM cell to the next switching system on the path of the virtual circuit.

When the Forward RM cell reaches the virtual destination, the virtual destination returns the Forward RM cell as a Backward RM cell. The Backward RM cell passes through one or more switching systems on the path of the virtual circuit without any further modification to the bandwidth information set in the Forward RM cell. When the Backward RM cell reaches the virtual source, the virtual source uses the new ER in the RM cell to determine a new ACR. Based on the new ACR, the virtual source adjusts the rate at which it transmits cells.

Every time a switching system determines a Cutoff and ER for a virtual circuit, the switching system also recomputes certain global bandwidth parameters for the virtual circuits that the switching system handles. These global bandwidth parameters include the total bandwidth available to all ABR-ER virtual circuits, the total Exp_Rate for ABR-ER virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere, the total number of ABR-ER virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere, and the total number of ABR-ER virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at the switching system.

Methods for determining and updating the global bandwidth parameters in an ABR-ER switching system are known. However, these methods have the disadvantage that every time a switching system recomputes the global bandwidth parameters that the switching system maintains on its virtual circuits, the computations introduce errors in the form of round-off errors into the global bandwidth parameters. Over the life of the virtual circuits, as the switching system recomputes the global bandwidth parameters, the round-off errors can accumulate, and as a result of the accumulated errors, the parameters gradually become inaccurate. When an ABR-ER switching system maintains inaccurate global bandwidth parameters, the switching system fails to allocate an optimum bandwidth to each virtual circuit. Specifically, a switching system allocates an optimum bandwidth to a virtual circuit when the virtual source uses the entire or nearly the entire bandwidth allocated to the virtual circuit. If the global bandwidth parameters are inaccurate, the switching system may allocate an insufficient amount of bandwidth to a virtual circuit, even though the switching system may in fact have sufficient bandwidth available. Similarly, the switching system may allocate an excessive amount of bandwidth to a virtual circuit, even though the switching system may in fact have insufficient bandwidth available. In either case, the switching system would fail to allocate an optimum bandwidth to the virtual circuit. The methods known prior to the present invention for determining and updating the global bandwidth parameters in an ABR-ER switching system have the additional disadvantage that, when a virtual circuit does not use the entire bandwidth a switching system allocates to it, the switching system cannot dynamically identify and reallocate the unused bandwidth to other virtual circuits in the switching system. For example, when a virtual source stops transmitting cells on a virtual circuit or transmits cells at a much lower rate than the bandwidth allocated to the virtual circuit permits, the virtual source does not use the bandwidth allocated to the virtual circuit in an optimum fashion.

Furthermore, the methods known prior to the present invention for allocating bandwidth to an ABR virtual circuit have the disadvantage that a switching system may allocate more bandwidth to the virtual circuit than a virtual source could use. For example, when a virtual source requests an ER that is below the MCR for a virtual circuit, the switching system cannot decrease the ER below the MCR.

Therefore, it is desirable to have a method and system for correcting, within a fixed time interval, the accumulation of computational errors in the global bandwidth parameters maintained in an ABR-ER switching system, identifying the unused bandwidth in virtual circuits, allocating the identified unused bandwidth to other virtual circuits in the switching system, and increasing the total bandwidth that the switching system can make available to virtual circuits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a method and system for dynamically adjusting the total bandwidth that an ABR-ER switching system can make available to ABR virtual circuits in the switching system by recomputing, at fixed time intervals, the total bandwidth that the switching system can make available to active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in the switching system. The method and system classifies the ABR virtual circuits that are established through an output port of the switching system into three categories of "recently active," "active," and "inactive" virtual circuits. An ABR virtual circuit is "recently active" if an output port receives at least one RM cell for the virtual circuit since the most recent recomputation of the total bandwidth that the switching system can make available to active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in the switching system (hereinafter referred to as "bandwidth allocation update"). An ABR virtual circuit is "active" if an output port receives at least one RM cell within the two most recent bandwidth allocation updates. An ABR virtual circuit is "inactive" if an output port does not receive at least one RM cell within the two most recent bandwidth allocation updates. The present invention further comprises a method and system for dynamically adjusting the total bandwidth that an ABR-ER switching system can make available to ABR virtual circuits in the switching system by determining the total bandwidth allocated to inactive ABR virtual circuits in the switching system without explicitly identifying the inactive ABR virtual circuits, and making available the bandwidth allocated to inactive ABR virtual circuits to active ABR virtual circuits that are established through the switching system. When transmission of cells resumes in an inactive ABR virtual circuit, the switching system reallocates new bandwidth to the virtual circuit.

Specifically, at each fixed time interval, the switching system sets the total expected rate (Exp_Rate) for active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere equal to the total expected rate for recently active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere, sets the total number of active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system equal to the total number of recently active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in the output port of the switching system, resets to zero the total expected rate for recently active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere, and resets to zero the total number of recently active ABR virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at the switching system.

The present invention further comprises a method and system for allocating bandwidth to an ABR virtual circuit that is established through an ABR-ER switching system by allocating an explicit rate (ER) to the virtual circuit that is less than the minimum cell rate (MCR) for the virtual circuit, when the switching system receives a resource management (RM) cell with an explicit rate that is less than the minimum cell rate for the virtual circuit.

The description of the invention and the following description for carrying out the best mode of the invention should not restrict the scope of the claimed invention.

Both provide examples and explanations to enable others to practice the invention. The accompanying drawings, which form part of the description for carrying out the best mode of the invention, show several embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 a is a block diagram of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications network.

Figure lb is a block diagram of an end-to-end path of a virtual circuit that passes through N switching systems in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications network. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an output port in a switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to process a resource management cell in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to process a resource management cell in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine bandwidth parameters for an output port and a virtual circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine a new explicit rate for a virtual circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine the total expected rate for active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine a the total expected rate for recently active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 10 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine the total number of active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine the total number of recently active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to determine the total bandwidth available to active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 is a flow chart of the steps a switching system performs to make available a new total bandwidth to active Available Bit Rate virtual circuits that are bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Figure la illustrates a block diagram of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Virtual source (VS) 100 interfaces with ATM network 160 via transmission link 120. Virtual destination (VD) 110 interfaces with ATM network 160 via transmission link 125. In establishing a connection between VS 100 and VD 110, ATM network 160 sets up a virtual circuit (VC) (not shown) between VS 100 and VD 110. During the set-up phase of the connection, VS 100 negotiates with ATM network 160 for an Available Bit Rate-Explicit Rate (ABR-ER) service.

After completion of the set-up phase of the connection, VS 100 generates Forward resource management (RM) cell 130 and transmits it on transmission link 120. Forward RM cell 130 passes through ATM network 160 and transmission link 125, and arrives at VD 110. VD 110 processes Forward RM cell 130, and generates Backward RM cell 140 in response to Forward RM cell 130. VD 110 then transmits Backward RM cell 140 on transmission link 125. Backward RM cell 140 passes through ATM network 160 and transmission link 120, and arrives at VS 100.

VS 100 generates data cell 150 and transmits it on transmission link 120. Data cell 150 passes through ATM network 160 and transmission link 125, and arrives at VD 110. Similarly, VD 110 generates data cell 150 and transmits it on transmission link 125. Data cell 150 passes through ATM network 160 and transmission link 120, and arrives at VS 100.

Figure lb illustrates a block diagram of the end-to-end path of VC in ATM network 160 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The path of the VC established between VS 100 and VD 110 passes through N switching systems 105, through 105_N. Accordingly, when VS 100 transmits Forward RM cell 130 on transmission link 120, Forward RM cell passes through N switching systems 105, through 105_N. Each switching system 105, through 105_N connects to its adjacent switching system via a corresponding transmission link. For example, switching system 105, connects to switching system 105₂ via transmission link 121.

Switching System Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a switching system, for example switching system 105₂, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, switching system 105₂ comprises M input ports 240, through 240_M. Each input port interfaces with an input line, which can carry K virtual circuits. For example, input port 240_M interfaces with input line 121_M, which can carry K virtual circuits (not shown). Input ports 240, through 240_M preferably interface with a cross- point switch fabric 250 via input links 220, through 220_M respectively. Alternatively, switch fabric 250 may be a Batcher-Banyan switch network, Sunshine switch, or any other switch fabric capable of switching ATM cells.

Switch fabric 250 interfaces with N output ports 260, through 260_N via output links 230, through 230_N respectively. For example, output port 260_N interfaces with switch fabric 250 via output link 230_N. Each output port interfaces with an output line, which can carry K virtual circuits. For example, output port 260_N interfaces with output line 122_N, which can carry K virtual circuits (not shown).

Output Ports Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment for each output port 260, through

260_N in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, each output port, for example output port 260_N, preferably has access to central processing unit 310 (CPU), memory unit 360, controller 390, secondary storage 380, and high speed buses 370, 371, and 372. CPU 310 interfaces with controller 390 via high speed bus 372. Controller 390 interfaces with memory unit 360 and secondary storage 380 via high speed buses 370 and 371 respectively.

Memory unit 360 preferably includes VC_Handler 320, Port_Handler 330, Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340, and Buffer 350. VC_Handler 320, Portjiandler 330, Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340, and Buffer 350 each preferably include a set of instructions in the form of software, which CPU 310 executes. VC_Handler 320 receives and processes RM cells for VCs in output port 260_N. Specifically, Port_Handler 330 determines a new ER and Exp_Rate for a VC, and recomputes the global bandwidth parameters for the VCs in output port 260_N, when a VC receives an RM cell. At fixed time intervals, Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340 recomputes the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N. Buffer 350 stores cells (i.e, data cells and RM cells) that arrive at output port 260_N in queues (not shown), which are in memory unit 360. Alternatively, each VC_Handler 320, Portjiandler 330, Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340, and Buffers 350 may be implemented in hardware using hardware technology known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Secondary storage 380 includes disk drive unit 382 and tape cartridge 381. Stored in disk drive unit 382 are software and data for switching system 105₂. For example, disk drive unit 382 contains software for VC_Handler 320, Port_Handler 330, Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340, and Buffer 350. Secondary storage 380 can copy software and data for switching system 105₂ from tape cartridge 381 into disk drive unit 382. Controller 390 can then upload the software and data from disk drive unit 382 into memory unit 360. Similarly, controller 390 can download software and data from memory unit 360 into disk drive unit 382. Secondary storage 380 can then copy the downloaded software and data from disk drive unit 382 into tape cartridge 381.

VCJiandler A VCJiandler processes and stores data specific to each VC in an output port. Specifically, a VCJiandler preferably stores for each VC a MCR, the time that an RM cell last arrived for the VC, an Exp_Rate, and a BottleneckedJΞlsewhere indicator. VCJiandler sets Bottlenecked Jϊlsewhere indicator to a logical value of 1 , when at the time VCJiandler receives an RM cell for a VC, the VC is bottlenecked elsewhere. If the VC is instead bottlenecked at an output port of the switching system, then VCJiandler sets Bottlenecked_Elsewhere indicator to a logical value of 0. Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a VCJiandler, for example

VCJiandler 320, preferably performs to process an RM cell, for example RM cell 130, for a VC. VCJiandler 320 receives RM cell 130 VC from switch fabric 250 (step 400). VCJiandler 320 then generates an RM_Cell_Request (step 405). An RM Cell Jlequest includes a MCR, BottleneckedJΞlsewhere indicator, current Exp_Rate for VC, CCR, and a current ER for VC.

VCJiandler 320 then sends the RM_Cell_Request to Portjiandler 330 (step 410). Portjiandler 330 computes a new ER, Exp_Rate, and BottleneckedJΞlsewhere indicator, and incorporates them in RM_Cell_Request.

VCJiandler 320 waits until it receives the RM_Cell_Request back from Portjiandler 330 (step 415). If VCJiandler 320 does not receive the

RM_Cell_Request back from Portjiandler 330 (step 415), then VCJiandler continues to wait until it receives the RM_Cell_Request from Portjiandler 330 (step 420). If VCJiandler 320 receives the RM_Cell_Request back from Portjiandler 330, then VCJiandler 320 resumes the processing of the RM_Cell_Request (step 425). VCJiandler 320 stores the new ER, Exp_Rate, and the Bottlenecked_Elsewhere indicator in memory unit 360 (step 430). Alternatively, VCJiandler 320 may store each of these values in a register. Finally, VCJiandler 320 replaces the current ER in RM cell 130 with the new ER in RM_Cell_Request (step 435). VCJiandler 320 then sends RM cell 130 to Buffer 350 in output port 260_N (step 440).

Portjiandler A Portjiandler determines a new ER and Exp_Rate for a VC, and recomputes the global bandwidth parameters for VCs in an output port. Specifically, a Portjiandler preferably stores the time of the most recent bandwidth allocation update, the time of the second most recent bandwidth allocation update, the total bandwidth available to all VCs (i.e., CBR, VBR, ABR, and UBR VCs) in the output port, the total bandwidth available to all ABR VCs (i.e., active and inactive ABR VCs), the total Exp_Rate for active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere, total Exp_Rate for recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere, the total bandwidth available to

ABR VCs bottlenecked at the output port, the total number of active ABR VCs bottlenecked at the output port, and the total number of recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked at the output port. When the Portjiandler receives an RM_Cell Jlequest from a VCJiandler, the Portjiandler recomputes the above mentioned global bandwidth parameters.

Figure 5 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to process an RM_Cell_Request. Portjiandler 330 receives RM_Cell_Request from VCJiandler 320 (step 500). Portjiandler 330, as explained below, recomputes global bandwidth parameters for output port 260_N, and new ER and Exp_Rate for VC (step 505). Portjiandler 330 stores the new global bandwidth parameters for output port 260_N in memory unit 360 (step 510). Portjiandler 330 sets the global bandwidth parameters for VC in the RM_Cell_Request (step 515). Portjiandler 330 then returns the updated RM_Cell_Request to VCJiandler 320 (step 520). Figure 6 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to determine new global bandwidth parameters for an output port, for example output port 260_N, and a VC. Portjiandler 330 determines whether the last RM cell for VC arrived at output port 260_N within the two most recent bandwidth allocation updates in output port 260_N (step 600). If Portjiandler 330 determines that the last RM cell for VC arrived at output port 260_N before the two most recent bandwidth allocation updates in output port 260_N (step 610), Portjiandler 330 resets the current ExpJRate for VC to zero (step 615), and determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere and sets the Bottlenecked_Elsewhere indicator in the RM_Cell_Request equal to a logical 1 (step 620). Portjiandler then determines whether VC is bottlenecked elsewhere (step

625).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that the last RM cell for VC arrived at output port 260_N within the two most recent bandwidth allocation updates in output port 260_N (step 605), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is bottlenecked elsewhere (step 625).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere (step 640), then Portjiandler 330 determines an upper threshold, namely "Cutoff," for the amount of bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to VC. Portjiandler 330 preferably determines the Cutoff for VC by dividing the total bandwidth available to active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N plus the current Exp_Rate for

VC by the total number of active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N plus one (step 645). Step 645 may alternatively be expressed as follows:

Cutoff = (Total Bandwidth Available to Active ABR VCs at Output Port 260_N + Current Exp_Rate for VC) / (Total Number of Active ABR VCs Bottlenecked at Output Port 260_N + 1 )

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 630), Portjiandler 330 sets the Cutoff for VC equal to the total bandwidth available to active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N divided by the total number of active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 650). Portjiandler 330 then, as explained below, determines a new ER for VC (step 655), a new Exp_Rate for VC (step 660), a new total Exp_Rate for recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere (step 665), a new total Exp_Rate for active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere (step 670), a new total number of recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 675), a new total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N

(step 680), and a new total number of active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 685).

Figure 7 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to determine a new ER for a VC. Portjiandler 330 determines whether the Cutoff for VC is less than or equal to MCR for VC (step 700). If Portjiandler 330 determines that Cutoff for VC is greater than MCR (step 710), Portjiandler 330 sets the new ER equal to the minimum of the current ER and MCR (step 715). Portjiandler 330 then determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere, and sets the BottleneckedJElsewhere indicator in the RM_Cell Jlequest to a logical 1 (step 755).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that Cutoff for VC is less than or equal to MCR for VC (step 705), Portjiandler 330 determines a most likely new Exp_Rate for VC (step 720). Port Handler 330 selects the maximum of CCR and MCR for VC, and sets the most likely new Exp_Rate to the minimum of that maximum value and the current ER for VC.

Portjiandler 330 determines whether the Cutoff for VC is greater than the most likely new Expjlate for VC (step 725). If Portjiandler 330 determines that the Cutoff is not greater than the most likely new Expjlate (step 735), then Portjiandler 330 sets the new ER for VC to the minimum of current ER and the Cutoff (step 740). Portjiandler 330 then determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere and sets the

Bottlenecked_Elsewhere indicator in the RM_Cell_Request to a logical 1 (step 755).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that the Cutoff for VC is greater than the most likely new Expjlate (step 730), Portjiandler 330 sets the new ER equal to the Cutoff (step 745). Portjiandler 330 then determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N, and sets the Bottlenecked_Elsewhere indicator in the

RM_Cell Jlequest to a logical 0 (step 750). Figure 8 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to determine a new total Expjlate for active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere. Portjiandler 330 determines whether a VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 800). If Port-Handler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 810), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 815). If Portjiandler 33 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 820), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere remains unchanged (step 825).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 830), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the current Expjlate for VC (step 835). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere

(step 805), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 840). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 845), Portjiandler 330 increases the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the new Expjlate for VC (step 850).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 855), the Portjiandler 330 decreases the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs by the current Expjlate for VC and increases the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs by the new Expjlate for VC (step 860). Figure 9 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example

Portjiandler 320, preferably performs to determine a new total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere. Port Handler 330 determines whether the last RM cell for a VC arrived at output port 260_N after the most recent bandwidth allocation update in output port 260_N (step 900). If Port Handler 330 determines that the last RM cell for VC arrived at output port 260_N before the most recent bandwidth allocation update in output port 260_N (step 905), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 920). If Portjiandler determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 920), the Portjiandler 330 increases the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the new Expjlate for VC (step 980).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 915), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere remains unchanged (step 925). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update in output port 260_N (step 930), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 935). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 940), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 950). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 955), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere remains unchanged (step 925).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 940) and determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 960), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the current Expjlate for VC (step 965).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update in output port 260_N (step 930) and determines that

VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 945), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 970). If Portjiandler determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 975), then Portjiandler 330 increases the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the new

Exp late for VC (step 980). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update in output port 260_N (step 930), determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 945), and determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 985), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total Expjlate for recently active ABR

VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the current Expjlate for VC and increases the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by the new Expjlate for VC (step 990).

Figure 10 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to determine the new total number of active

ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at an output port, for example output port 260_N. Portjiandler 330 determines whether a VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1000). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1005), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step

1015). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1020), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total number of active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N remains unchanged (step 1050). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere

(step 1010), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1030). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1040), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total number of active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere by one (step 1045).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1010) and determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1035), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total number of active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N remains unchanged (step 1050).

Figure 11 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example Port_Handler 330, preferably performs to determine the new total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at an output port, for example output port 260_N. If Portjiandler 330 determines that the last RM cell for a VC arrived before the most recent bandwidth allocation update (step 1105), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1115). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1120), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N remains unchanged (step 1165).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that the last RM cell for VC arrived before the most recent bandwidth allocation update (step 1105) and determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1125), then Portjiandler 330 increases the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by one (step 1130).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update (step 1110), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1135). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1 140), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1115). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1120), then Portjiandler

330 determines that the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N remains unchanged (step 1165).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1140) and determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1125), then Portjiandler 330 increases the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by one (step 1130).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that the last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update (step 1110) and determines that VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1145), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1150). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is currently bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1155), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260N remains unchanged (step 1165).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that last RM cell for VC arrived after the most recent bandwidth allocation update (step 1110), determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1145), and determines that VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1160), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total number of active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by one (step 1170). Figure 12 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Portjiandler, for example

Portjiandler 330, preferably performs to determine the new total bandwidth that an output port, for example output port 260_N, can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N. Portjiandler 330 determines whether a VC is currently bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1200). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1205), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1215). If Portjiandler 330 determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1220), then Portjiandler 330 determines that the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs at output port 260_N remains unchanged (step 1230).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1205) and determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1225), then Portjiandler 330 increases the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by the current Expjlate for VC (step 1235).

If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1210), then Portjiandler 330 determines whether, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1240). If Portjiandler determines that last time VC was bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1245), then Portjiandler 330 decreases the total bandwidth available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by the new Expjlate for VC (step 1255). If Portjiandler 330 determines that VC is bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1210) and determines that, when last time output port 260_N received an RM cell for VC, VC was bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1250), then Portjiandler 330 increases the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by the current Expjlate for VC and decreases the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N by the new Expjlate for VC (step 1260).

B andwidth_Allocation JJpdate An output port, for example output port 260_N, invokes, at preferably fixed time intervals, Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340. Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 preferably stores the time interval between each invocation in a static memory. The manufacturer of a switching system may set a default for the fixed time interval, which a switching system administrator or network administrator may subsequently reconfigure. The time interval between each invocation may preferably be twice the upper bound for the time interval between each RM cell generated by an active virtual source. The upper bound may preferably be in the range of 2^"5 milliseconds to 100 milliseconds. Alternatively, the time interval between each invocation may be less than twice the upper bound for the time interval between each RM cell, in which case the time interval between each invocation must still be sufficiently large to allow for arrival of at least one RM cell between two consecutive invocations of Bandwidth_AllocationJJpdate 340.

Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 preferably has access to the global bandwidth parameters stored in memory unit 360 by Portjiandler 330. Specifically, Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 has access to the time of the most recent bandwidth allocation update, the time of a second most recent bandwidth allocation update, the total bandwidth available to all ABR VCs (i.e., active and inactive ABR VCs), the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere, the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked elsewhere, the total bandwidth available to active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N, the total number of active ABR VCs bottlenecked at output port 260_N, and the total number of recently active ABR VCs bottlenecked at the output port 260_N.

Figure 13 illustrates a flow chart of the steps a Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate, for example Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340, preferably performs to make available a new total bandwidth to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at an output port, for example output port 260_N. Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 sets the total Expjlate for active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere equal to the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1300). Next, Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 sets the total number of active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N equal to the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1305).

Bandwidth_AllocationJJpdate 340 then sets the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N equal to the difference between the total bandwidth available to all ABR VCs (i.e., active and inactive ABR VCs) and the total Expjlate for recently active ABR

VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1310).

Next, Bandwidth_AllocationJJpdate 340 resets the total Expjlate for recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked elsewhere (step 1315). Bandwidth_Allocation JJpdate 340 then resets the total number of recently active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1320). Finally,

Bandwidth_Allocation_Update 340 sets a timer for the next update to the total bandwidth that output port 260_N can make available to active ABR VCs that are bottlenecked at output port 260_N (step 1325).

To prevent reallocation of bandwidth from a VC when an RM cell for the VC is lost, for example, due to network congestion for an extended period of time, an

ATM network may assign a high priority to RM cells. Alternatively, by keeping the time interval between the updates to the global bandwidth parameters (i.e., invocation of Bandwidth Ulocation JJpdate) sufficiently large, if an RM cell is lost due to network congestion, the impact to allocation of an optimum bandwidth to the VC would be minimal.

While it has been illustrated and described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments and methods of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention.

In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular element, technique or implementation to the teachings of the present invention without departing from the central scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiments and methods disclosed herein, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) at predetermined times, determining bandwidth allocated to inactive virtual circuits in said switching system; and b) making said bandwidth available to active virtual circuits in said switching system.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of making said bandwidth available to new virtual circuits in said switching system.

3. A system for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, comprising: a) means for determining, at predetermined times, bandwidth allocated to inactive virtual circuits in said switching system; and b) means for making said bandwidth available to active virtual circuits in said switching system.

4. A computer-readable medium capable of configuring an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system to perform a method for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in said switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) at predetermined times, determining bandwidth allocated to inactive virtual circuits in said switching system; and b) making said bandwidth available to active virtual circuits in said switching system.

5. A method for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) determining a first total expected rate for recently active virtual circuits in said switching system that are bottlenecked elsewhere; b) adjusting a second total expected rate for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere to said first total expected rate; c) determining total bandwidth available in said switching system for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; and d) resetting said first total expected rate.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising the steps of: e) determining a first total number of recently active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; f) adjusting a second total number of said active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system to said first total number; and g) resetting said first total number.

7. A system for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, comprising: a) means for determining a first total expected rate for recently active virtual circuits in said switching system that are bottlenecked elsewhere; b) means for adjusting a second total expected rate for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere to said first total expected rate; c) means for determining total bandwidth available in said switching system for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; and d) means for resetting said first total expected rate.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising: e) means for determining a first total number of recently active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; f) means for adjusting a second total number of said active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system to said first total number; and g) means for resetting said first total number.

9. A computer-readable medium capable of configuring an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system to perform a method for allocating bandwidth to virtual circuits in said switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) determining a first total expected rate for recently active virtual circuits in said switching system that are bottlenecked elsewhere; b) adjusting a second total expected rate for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked elsewhere to said first total expected rate; c) determining total bandwidth available in said switching system for active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; and d) resetting said first total expected rate.

10. The computer-readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said method further comprises the steps of: e) determining a first total number of recently active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system; f) adjusting a second total number of said active virtual circuits that are bottlenecked in said switching system to said first total number; and g) resetting said first total number.

11. A method for allocating bandwidth to a virtual circuit in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a resource management cell for said virtual circuit, wherein said resource management cell comprises an explicit rate and a minimum cell rate; and b) allocating said explicit rate to said virtual circuit when said explicit rate is less than said minimum cell rate.

12. A computer-readable medium capable of configuring an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system to perform a method for allocating bandwidth to a virtual circuit in said switching system, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a resource management cell for said virtual circuit, wherein said resource management cell comprises an explicit rate and a minimum cell rate; and b) allocating said explicit rate to said virtual circuit when said explicit rate is less than said minimum cell rate.

13. A system for allocating bandwidth to a virtual circuit in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching system, comprising: a) means for receiving a resource management cell for said virtual circuit, wherein said resource management cell comprises an explicit rate and a minimum cell rate; and b) means for allocating said explicit rate to said virtual circuit when said explicit rate is less than said minimum cell rate.