Method and device for controlling data packet traffic at the input of a network, and corresponding computer program and network equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of controlling data packet traffic at the input of a network, whereby the traffic comprises N streams and/or substreams which are each associated with a priority level, N=2, and each of the aforementioned packets is marked with the priority level associated with the stream or substream to which said packet belongs. The inventive method comprises a step employing a token bucket mechanism with N operating levels and N token buffers each containing a number of available tokens, the tokens of each of the N token buffers being used to process one of the N priority levels. Moreover, each of the packets is accepted or refused according to whether or not it is possible for same to be attributed tokens depending on the tokens available at least in the token buffer which is used to process the priority level of each packet. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the tokens from the N token buffers are shared between the N priority levels, and a packet with priority level i can be attributed tokens from a token buffer which is associated with priority level j, said level having less priority, when there are not sufficient tokens available in the i priority level token buffer.