Patent ID: 7505405
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for optimizing packet flow control through buffer status forwarding comprising the steps of: providing a sending device for sending transactions and a receiving device for receiving said transactions; each of said sending device and said receiving device including a plurality of buffers used for storing a plurality of respective different transaction types, and a register for storing buffer status information; sending said stored buffer status information of said sending device in said transactions being sent to said receiving device, said buffer status information of said sending device including a respective number of buffers being used for each of said plurality of respective different transaction types; using said stored buffer status information of said sending device by said receiving device for selecting transactions based upon said respective different transaction types to offload; and said plurality of said respective different transaction types include a type A transaction and a type B transaction, and wherein the step of using the buffer status information of the sending device by the receiving device for selecting transactions based upon said respective different transaction types to offload includes selecting to offload one of the type A transaction or the type B transaction to avoid filling all available buffers for either type A transactions or type B transactions.