Patent ID: 6044406
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A credit-based method for controlling data communications in a closed loop system between a sender and a receiver coupled by a link, said method comprising:(a) allocating a specified number of credits to said sender in an available credit count, a credit manifesting a portion of memory space in said receiver reserved to store a data segment received from said sender;(b) transmitting a data segment across the link from the sender to the receiver and decrementing the available credit count at the sender for the transmitted data segment;(c) returning a credit from the receiver to the available credit count of the sender with each data segment received and consumed at the receiver; and(d) automatically periodically checking the number of credits in the closed loop system to ascertain whether credit loss or credit gain has occurred, said credit loss or credit gain potentially affecting control of data communications within the closed loop system.