Patent ID: 7957285
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network switch comprising: a first port configured to (i) receive first frames transmitted to the network switch from a second switch and (ii) transmit a first flow control message to the second switch; a second port configured to (i) receive the first frames from the first port and (ii) receive second frames transmitted to the network switch; a first queue in communication with the second port, the first queue configured to (i) store the first frames to be output by the second port, (ii) generate a congestion signal when the first queue is filled above a threshold; and (iii) store the second frames to be output by the first port based on a second flow control message; and a first control module configured to (i) send the first flow control message to the first port based on the congestion signal and (ii) instruct the second port to assert flow control based on the second flow control message, wherein the first control module instructs the second port to assert the flow control when (i) the second flow control message is received by the first port and from the second switch and (ii) the second flow control message designates the second port as a target device to assert the flow control, and wherein the asserting of the flow control includes storing the second frames in the first queue.