Patent ID: 6144636
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A packet switch for setting a connection between a transmission source of a packet and a reception destination thereof so as to perform communication, comprising:a packet buffer which includes at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, wherein an input packet from the input port is delivered to at least one output port in accordance with address information of the input packet and connection information having been set in the packet switch at the time of setting the connection between the transmission source and the reception destination, and wherein a bandwidth management packet for giving notice of a congested state of the packet switch is transferred on the connection;a register which holds threshold value information for indicating an amount of use of said packet buffer that causes congestion;a counter which provides a count representative of a current amount of use of said packet buffer;a comparator which compares said count from said counter and said threshold value information from said register and outputs a result of the comparison; anda congestion decision/notification circuit which writes congestion notification information into the bandwidth management packet when the result of the comparison indicates that the count exceeds said threshold value information and does not write congestion notification information into the bandwidth management packet when the result of the comparison indicates that the count does not exceed said threshold value information,wherein said register holds threshold value information for each connection and said counter provides a count representative of a current amount of use of said packet buffer per connection.