Network switch supporting rate-based and credit-based flow control mechanisms on a link-by-link basis
US6452903B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5681
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Network interface logic includes first logic executing a credit-based flow-control protocol (e.g., Quantum Flow Control or QFC) and second logic executing a rate-based flow control protocol (e.g. Explicit Rate or ER). The second logic transfers data cells between a network link and the first logic and inserts and extracts forward (FRM) and backward (BRM) flow-control/resource management (RM) cells. The second logic further (i) obtains cell buffer utilization information from the first logic, (ii) supplies transmission credits to the first logic based on rate information in BRM cells, (iii) induces the first logic to emit “dummy” RM cells when an RM cell is to be transmitted, and (iv) converts the dummy cells to either FRM or DRM cells for forwarding on the link. Rate information in the transmitted RM cells is calculated from the buffer utilization information and rate information in extracted BRM cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.