Patent ID: 6813275
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method for preventing packet underflow and packet overflow for packets sent across an asynchronous link between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein said receiver includes a buffer that can store a number of packets greater than an ideal number of packets, said method comprising:determining whether transmission of a first transaction across said asynchronous link is completed; sending a predetermined number of drop-me warning packets from said transmitter to said receiver across said asynchronous link upon completing transmission of said first transaction and before transmitting a second transaction across said asynchronous link; sending one or more drop-me packets from said transmitter to said receiver across said asynchronous link before transmitting said second transaction across said asynchronous link; receiving said predetermined number of drop-me warning packets and said one or more drop-me packets in said buffer in said receiver; compensating for said packet overflow when said number of packets in said buffer is greater than said ideal number of packets by skipping at least one drop-me packet in said buffer in said receiver, so that said ideal number of packets is substantially maintained in said buffer; and compensating for said packet underflow when said number of packets in said buffer is less than said ideal number of packets by stalling access to said buffer for one or more clock cycles, so that said ideal number of packets is substantially maintained in said buffer.