Dual clocks for network device
US6256320A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/413
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A distributed arbitration scheme for a network. Ports in a network device determine which port in a set of ports may broadcast a packet onto a bus in the network device. A method of transmitting data between a set of ports sharing a bus in hub is described. The set of ports includes a first port, and the method comprises the first port receiving a packet, the first port requesting the bus, and, if another port is requesting the bus, the first port transmitting the packet to the bus if the first port has not transmitted a packet later than the another port requesting the bus. A system using two clocks of different speeds in a network device. The hub has at least a port. The port has an internal data path having a first width. A bus is coupled to the port. The bus has a data path that has a second width. The second width is greater than the first width. The hub includes a first clock that has a first frequency and is coupled to circuitry in the port for clocking internal data transfers. The hub includes a second clock that has a second frequency less than the first frequency, and the second clock is coupled to circuitry in the port for qualifying data transfers with the bus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.