Patent ID: 6584535
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
An interconnect for transporting, within a network node, data between a primary circuit component and a secondary circuit component, the interconnect comprising:(a) a primary to_mate transmitter, including a buffer for storing data to be transmitted over the interconnect, and a transmit controller for controlling the insertion of control characters into the data to be transmitted; (b) a primary from_mate receiver, including a buffer for storing received data, and a receive controller for interpreting control characters inserted into the data; (c) a secondary to_mate transmitter, including a buffer for storing data to be transmitted over the interconnect, and a transmit controller for controlling the insertion of control characters into the data stream to be transmitted; (d) a secondary from_mate receiver, including a buffer for storing received data, and a receive controller, for interpreting the control characters inserted into the data; (e) a first link for communicating data between the primary to_mate transmitter and the secondary from_mate receiver; (f) a second link for communicating data between the secondary to_mate transmitter and the primary from_mate receiver, the second link operating distinctly from the first link such that data may be transmitted at the same time over the first link and the second link; (g) whereby the transmit controller in the primary to_mate transmitter is connected with the receive controller in the primary from_mate receiver, and the transmit controller in the secondary to_mate transmitter is connected with the receive controller in the secondary from_mate receiver, such that when a receive controller in the respective from_mate receiver detects that the fill level of the receive buffer is above a threshold, the corresponding to_mate transmit controller inserts a transmit off (XOFF) control character in the data, and when the receive controller in the respective from_mate receiver detects a transmit off (XOFF), the corresponding to_mate transmitter stops transmitting data; and (h) whereby the transmit controller in the primary to_mate transmitter is connected with the receive controller in the primary from_mate receiver, and the transmit controller in the secondary to_mate transmitter is connected with the receive controller in the secondary from_mate receiver, such that when the receive controller in the respective from_mate receiver detects that the fill level of the receive buffer is below a threshold, the corresponding to_mate transmit controller inserts a transmit on (XON) control character, and when the receive controller in the respective from_mate receiver detects a XON control character, the corresponding to_mate transmitter is enabled to transmit data.