Patent ID: 6081844
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
For use by nodes in an arbitrary topology collection of nodes wherein each node may have a plurality of communications channels and a plurality of adjacent nodes to each of which the node is coupled through a single communications channel, respectively, each of said nodes having an interconnect controller having means for controlling the exchange of data packets having a length of (W) bits over communications channel, wherein to transmit a packet having (W) bits plus (X) appended control bits requires a time (T), the method of exchanging data packets between adjacent nodes comprising the steps of:adjusting the round trip delay (D.sub.ij) for data packets transmitted between adjacent nodes i and j to equal an integral multiple of the packet transmission time (T) thus providing for D.sub.ij /T packet transmission slots between adjacent nodes i and j;each node receiving data packets from all adjacent nodes through all coupled communications channels;using a routing table to generate an index for said received data packets;storing said data packets in a common buffer pool shared by a given node's communications channels;queuing packets stored in said common buffer pool of a node for transmission to an adjacent node through an appropriate communications channel where said selection of said appropriate communications channel is made using said index;continuously conveying data packets between adjacent nodes through isochronous coupled communications channels by conveying a data packet upon receiving a data packet.