System of controlling the flow of information between senders and receivers across links being used as channels

• US 20010030943A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pandey, Kulwant M., Gregg, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,693,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/34 ensuring sequence integrity, e.g. using sequence numbers

Abstract

Controlling the flow of information between senders and receivers across links being used as channels. In one example, a self-timed interface link is adapted to be used as a channel. Such an interface is referred to as an integrated cluster bus. The flow control for the integrated cluster bus includes, for instance, a Data Request packet that indicates to the transmitter of data that it can now send the data; a continue indicator that specifies that more data is to follow; and a sequence indicator that is used to determine if a particular message is in proper sequence order. The integrated cluster bus does not require large data buffers and offers low latency messaging.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the flow of information across links between senders and receivers, said system comprising:

a sender adapted to send a request to a receiver via a link;

means for forwarding a data request indication from said receiver to said sender via said link in response to said request, said data request indication indicating that said receiver is prepared to receive further information from said sender;

said sender being further adapted to send said further information, in response to said data request indication; and

wherein said link is being used as a channel in that the link is not stopped while said receiver is preparing for said further information.

2. A system for controlling the flow of information across links between senders and receivers, said system comprising:

a packet including a sequence number usable in maintaining delivery order of said packet, said packet having no memory address and requiring no explicit individual response;

a sender adapted to send said packet to a receiver across a link; and

means for using said sequence number to determine if said packet is in proper order for processing by said receiver.