Patent ID: 6320865
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A device for synchronously transferring data in chunks pursuant to accepted transfer requests from among a plurality of nodes on a network, the device comprisingincoming buffer means for storing the chunks received from the plurality of nodes;outgoing buffer means for storing the chunks to be sent to the plurality of nodes;controller means for determining an order and time in which the chunks are to be transferred among the plurality of nodes by:(i) maintaining an end-to-end coordinated schedule for synchronous operation indicating an order and time in which the chunks are to be transferred pursuant to transfer requests already accepted;(ii) accepting new transfer requests for data in chunks from the plurality of nodes;(iii) determining which of the new transfer requests can be satisfied in accordance with the schedule without affecting any of the already accepted transfer requests; and(iv) revising the schedule in accordance with those of the new transfer requests that can be satisfied; andswitch means for switching each of the chunks from a portion of the incoming buffer means corresponding to one of the nodes to a portion of the outgoing buffer means corresponding to another one of the notes at times determined by the schedule as revised by the control means.