DATA RATE CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL DATA STREAMS IN A NETWORK DEVICE

A method includes receiving data stream packets on respective ones of data channels. The data stream packets of each respective data channel contain an input data stream. The method includes storing the data stream packets for each of the data channels in one or more packet buffers associated with the respective data channel. For each of the data channels, the method includes determining if a timing maturity event of a corresponding input data stream has occurred. The method includes outputting one or more of the stored data stream packets from the packet buffers associated with the respective data channel to generate a transmission packet if the timing maturity event of the corresponding input data stream has occurred. The stored data stream packets for generating consecutive transmissions packets may be output at a data rate based on a distance between timing maturity event occurrences of the corresponding input data stream.