US Patent 7230923 Time based packet scheduling and sorting system

Methods and systems for controlling scheduling in a packet switching node in a network are provided which enable the scheduling of packets from different sources in an earliest deadline first order. The packets are assigned timestamp deadlines and placed in input queues. The timestamps are determined according to maximum delay or minimum throughput quality of service requirements specified for the packets. The packets are scheduled in the earliest deadline first order in an output packet store. The packet closest to its timestamp deadline is selected from the output packet store by using an index.