Patent ID: 7647435
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a communications bus, comprising the steps of: maintaining a local credit value in a sending device, said local credit value reflecting capacity of a receiving device to receive data; decrementing said local credit value in said sending device responsive to transmitting data to said receiving device; incrementing said local credit value in said sending device responsive to receiving a returned credit from said receiving device; maintaining at least one credit value independently of said local credit value, said at least one credit value maintained independently being associated with capacity of said receiving device to receive data, said at least one value maintained independently being asynchronous with said local credit value in said sending device; comparing said at least one credit value maintained independently with said local credit value a plurality of times during at least one respective pre-defined time interval to detect agreement between said at least one credit value maintained independently and said local credit value occurring at least once of said plurality of times during said at least one respective pre-defined time interval; responsive to failure to detect agreement between one said at least one credit value maintained independently and said local credit value occurring at least once of said plurality of times during the respective pre-defined time interval, automatically taking at least one action to confirm whether a credit discrepancy exists; and responsive to confirming a credit discrepancy, automatically reporting a credit discrepancy.