Patent · US Expired

Accumulating and distributing flow control information via update messages and piggybacked flow control information in other messages in a packet switching system

US6654342B1 · kind B1 · utility

74Cited by
26References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 2000
Grant dateNov 25, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/5602
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for accumulating and distributing flow control information via update messages and piggybacked flow control information in other messages. One implementation operates using at least two techniques. Using a first technique, for every packet entering the switching system from a line card, the switching system conveys flow control information (typically congestion or both congestion and no-congestion indications) for the packet's destination to the line card. Using a second technique, the switching system will periodically convey congestion and no-congestion indications for all destinations to the line cards. In one implementation, when the first technique is used to provide only congestion indications, the periodic distribution of flow control information using the second technique provides non-congested indications which allows the line cards and their sources to resume or begin sending to the non-congested destinations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.