Patent ID: 7065580
Filing Date: 2006-06-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer system coupled with a pipelined network comprising: a plurality of initiator nodes coupled to send packets, into the network; a plurality of target nodes coupled to receive packets sent into the network; and a plurality of pipeline stages for transmitting data across the network, each pipeline stage consuming a predetermined time period, thereby providing for a predetermined time period for transmission for each packet successfully sent between one of the initiator nodes and one of the target nodes, the pipeline stages including an arbitration stage; and arbitration logic coupled to the initiator nodes, the pipelined network, and the target nodes, wherein for a particular transfer, the arbitration logic is coupled to receive an indication from a particular target node for the particular transfer as to whether the particular transfer can be supported in the particular target node; wherein the initiator nodes supply requests to the arbitration logic for transmission of respective packets to respective target nodes during respective arbitration stages, the arbitration logic responsive to the initiator node requests to schedule packet transmission across the network.