Patent ID: 8130652
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A switching device for use in a communication network comprising: one or more input ports, each having an associated input buffer for receiving data packets from a sending device; one or more output ports for sending data packets to a receiving device; a means to direct data packets from the or each input port to one or more of the output ports; and a means for providing information to the or each sending device such that a determination may be made as to whether or not the sending device may transmit packets in order to assure lossless transfer; wherein the means to direct data packets from a particular input port includes a method of control in order to regulate the transfer of data packets, where this regulation is based on a count of the data packets previously transferred from that input port and not yet output from the output port, and the switching device transmits data packets from the output port only when loss free transfer to the receiving device is assured.