ABLAUFSTEUERUNG UNTER VERWENDUNG VON QUANTUMWERTEN UND DEFIZITWERTEN

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for scheduling items (e.g. packets, processes etc.) in a system, such as, but not limited to a computer or communications system. In one implementation, each of the plurality of items has an associated deficit and mini-deficit. A next particular item is selected from the set of items currently having enough deficit to process the particular item. One or more entities associated with the particular item are processed a commensurate amount corresponding to the mini-deficit associated with the particular item. The operations are repeatedly performed, but are ceased if there are no more entities associated with the particular item or if said deficit associated with the particular item does not allow any further processing at the current time.