Patent ID: 8295293
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit device comprising a packet switch having an ingress port and an egress port, the packet switch comprising: a credit control circuit coupled to the ingress port and configured to issue initial credits to a link partner based on credit values of the ingress port and update the credit values of the ingress port to indicate credits consumed by the link partner as packets are received from the link partner at the ingress port, select credit threshold values corresponding to a transmission period of imminent credit starvation for the link partner, compare the updated credit values of the ingress port with the credit threshold values, and when at least one of the updated credit values of the ingress port has reached a corresponding credit threshold value issue additional credits to the link partner by transmitting a flow control update packet indicating the additional credits issued to the link partner, and wherein the transmission period of imminent credit starvation immediately precedes a subsequent transmission period in which credit starvation could occur in the link partner without the link partner receiving at least one additional credit in the subsequent transmission period.