Patent ID: 6307835
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of controlling data flow of data communications in a network, the method comprising the steps of:(a) recording a minimum frame slot number for data;(b) providing a byte counter and a flag counter;(c) transmitting at least one byte of data from a frame of data within a slot;(d) incrementing the byte counter;(e) determining if the end of the frame of data occurs;(f) if the end of the frame of data does not occur, then transmitting another byte and incrementing the byte counter;(g) if the end of the frame of data occurs, then determining whether a number currently represented and stored in the byte counter is less than the minimum frame slot number;(h) if the number currently represented and stored in the byte counter is less than the minimum frame slot number, then transmitting a flag byte and incrementing the flag byte counter;(i) if the number currently represented and stored in the byte counter is equal or greater than the minimum frame slot number, then resetting the byte and flag counters and repeating steps (c) through (h);(j) determining whether the sum of the numbers currently represented and stored in the byte counter and the flag counter equals the minimum frame slot number;(k) if the sum does not equal the minimum frame slot number, then transmitting another flag byte and incrementing the flag counter; and(l) if the sum equals the minimum frame slot, then resetting the byte and flag counters to an initial setting and transmitting at least another byte of data of another frame.