Patent ID: 6601105
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for dynamically controlling ongoing packet flow from a producer to a plurality of buffers via a corresponding plurality of separate information pipelines, said method comprising:at a control unit, receiving as inputs a plurality of producer output indications each indicating if said producer has output a respective packet to one of said plurality of buffers via an associated information pipeline and a plurality of buffer output indications that each indicate whether a respective one of said plurality of buffers has output a respective packet; at said control unit, repetitively determining during packet flow of a plurality of packets from said producer to said plurality of buffers whether said producer can output a next packet without packet loss, based upon capacities of said plurality of buffers, said plurality of producer output indications, said plurality of buffer output indications and a number of packets authorized by said control unit as indicated by grant messages output to said producer within a feedback latency of said control unit during packet flow of a plurality of packets from said producer to said plurality of buffers, wherein said feedback latency comprises a first latency for a producer output indication to reach said control unit from said producer and a second latency for a grant message generated by said control unit to reach said producer from said control unit; and in response to a determination that said producer can output a next packet without packet loss, said control unit generating and outputting a grant message to said producer indicating that said producer is permitted to output a packet, wherein said outputting utilizes a control feedback path separate from said plurality of information pipelines.