Patent ID: 7536477
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for processing data on a specific one node in a network comprising a plurality of nodes configured in a topology in which data, to reach an intended destination node, are transmitted through a configured node-to-node sequence, each of the nodes having a different node identifier that distinguishes the node from other nodes in the network, the method comprising: receiving data packets at the specific one node, each received data packet being transmitted by a prior node in a first direction through the configured node-to-node sequence and comprising a destination node identifier and a transmission round identifier indicating a transmission round of a prior node in which the data packet was sent; for each received data packet, storing data packets originating at the specific one node in a first local buffer of the specific one node for later transmission by the specific one node to another node in the first direction; and transmitting data packets from the specific one node in the first direction in successive transmission rounds, wherein in each successive transmission round there is transmitted i) one or more data packets from the first transit buffer that each have the same assigned transit buffer round identifier, if any data packets are present in the first transit buffer, and ii) one or more data packets from the first local buffer, if any data packets are present in the first local buffer.