An adaptive algorithm to ensure differential service in a token-ring network

A distributed and adaptive token-passing algorithm that can be used to maintain the values of a designated performance parameter (e.g. mean waiting time) at the hosts of a token-ring network at a prescribed ratio is presented. The algorithm is simple to implement. The authors demonstrate its application in keeping the mean waiting times at the various hosts in a prespecified ratio, in maintaining a designated throughput differential between different classes of customer, and in integrating voice and two classes of data on a token ring