Patent ID: 7068672
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of regulating the rate of packet grants for an asynchronous cross-point switch, said method comprising: incrementing, in a plurality of output ports of the asynchronous cross-point switch, a corresponding plurality of grant counters, in response to packet grants issued by an arbiter to multiple traffic sources that maintain virtual output queues (VOQs); wherein the packet grants are to be used for release, by the multiple traffic sources on corresponding multiple buses to the input ports of the asynchronous cross-point switch, of packets having particular output ports of the asynchronous cross-point switch as destinations, for transfer through the asynchronous cross-point switch; and decrementing a grant counter when a packet with a particular output port as destination is read out from a corresponding buffer in the asynchronous cross-point switch; and instructing the arbiter to cease issuing grants for packets having an output port as destination once a corresponding grant counter for said output port has exceeded a predetermined threshold; wherein the arbiter issues packet grants based on VOQ images in the arbiter, and responsive to instructions from the asynchronous cross-point switch.