Cluster link interface for a local area network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. For use in a local area network having a first controller (6) within a first node (node #3) and a second controller (10) within a ring hub (ring hub #1), said second controller (10) including an input buffer (70), said second controller (10) including an output mux (66) for sending a second-node header to said first controller (6), said second-node header containing second-node receive logic status information as to the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller, the improvement in said first controller (6) comprising:
- a receive data link (18,
48);
a transmit data link (46,
19);
an output buffer (44);
an input buffer (50);
an output control (42) connected to said output buffer (44); and
,an input control (52) connected to said input buffer (50);
said transmit data link (46,
19) including an output mux control logic (46) connected to an output of said output buffer (44);
said receive data link (18,
48) including an input demux control logic (48) connected to an input to said buffer (50);
said input control (52) including first means (FIG. 7A) for transferring first-node receive logic status information to said output mux control logic (46), said first-node receive logic status information containing information as to the status of said input buffer (50) of said first node;
said output mux control logic (46) including second means (FIG. 7B) for combining said first node receive logic status information from said input control logic (52) with message data from said output buffer (44) to form a first-node header and for placing said first-node header on said transmit data link (19) to thereby transmit said first-node receive logic status information along with said message data to said second controller (10);
said input mux control logic (48) being connected to said output control (42);
said input mux control logic (48) supplying said second-node header received from said second controller (10) to said output control (42);
said output control (42) including third means for limiting the flow of said message data from said output buffer (44) depending upon the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller as specified by said second-node receive logic status information contained in said second-node header, to thereby prevent overflow of said input buffer (70) by controlling the rate at which new messages are placed on said transmit data link (19,
46).
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Abstract
A link (19) connects a first controller (6) and a second controller (10) in a local area network. The second controller sends a header to the first controller (6) containing status information as to the status of an input buffer (70) at the second controller. The flow of the message data from a first buffer (44) at the first controller is controlled depending upon the status of the input buffer (70) at the second node. This prevents overflow of the input buffer (70) by controlling the rate at which new messages are placed on the transmit data link (19).
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. For use in a local area network having a first controller (6) within a first node (node #3) and a second controller (10) within a ring hub (ring hub #1), said second controller (10) including an input buffer (70), said second controller (10) including an output mux (66) for sending a second-node header to said first controller (6), said second-node header containing second-node receive logic status information as to the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller, the improvement in said first controller (6) comprising:
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a receive data link (18,
48);a transmit data link (46,
19);an output buffer (44); an input buffer (50); an output control (42) connected to said output buffer (44); and
,an input control (52) connected to said input buffer (50); said transmit data link (46,
19) including an output mux control logic (46) connected to an output of said output buffer (44);said receive data link (18,
48) including an input demux control logic (48) connected to an input to said buffer (50);said input control (52) including first means (FIG. 7A) for transferring first-node receive logic status information to said output mux control logic (46), said first-node receive logic status information containing information as to the status of said input buffer (50) of said first node; said output mux control logic (46) including second means (FIG. 7B) for combining said first node receive logic status information from said input control logic (52) with message data from said output buffer (44) to form a first-node header and for placing said first-node header on said transmit data link (19) to thereby transmit said first-node receive logic status information along with said message data to said second controller (10); said input mux control logic (48) being connected to said output control (42); said input mux control logic (48) supplying said second-node header received from said second controller (10) to said output control (42); said output control (42) including third means for limiting the flow of said message data from said output buffer (44) depending upon the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller as specified by said second-node receive logic status information contained in said second-node header, to thereby prevent overflow of said input buffer (70) by controlling the rate at which new messages are placed on said transmit data link (19,
46). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for communicating between nodes with different speed links comprising:
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a ring bus (20,
22);a ring controller (b) attached to said ring bus; a node controller (a); said node controller (a) attached to said ring controller (b) by means of a link (18,
19);said ring controller having means (60) for transmitting messages to another controller on said bus (20,
22) in packets of a fixed byte size;a buffer message mode bit input line (23) in said ring controller (b); and
,means (68) operative upon the condition that said Buffer Message mode bit input line (23) is asserted for causing all bytes of a message received from that link to be buffered (70) and further operative upon the condition that said Buffer Message mode bit input line (23) is not asserted for causing a fixed number of bytes to be buffered, said fixed number being equal to said fixed byte size.
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7. For use in a local area network having a first controller (6) and a second controller (10), said second controller (10) including means (66) for sending a second-node header to said first controller (6), said second-node header containing second-node status information as to the status of an input buffer (70) at said second controller, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) transferring first-node receive logic status information to said output control means (42), said receive logic status information containing information as to the status of said input buffer (50) of said first controller (6); (B) combining said first node buffer (50) status information with message data from said first controller (6) to form combined information including a first-node header; (C) transmitting said first-node header to said second controller (10); (D) receiving said second-node header at said first controller (6); and
,(E) utilizing said second-node status information as to the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller, to control the rate at which new messages are placed on said transmit data link (19) from said first buffer (44) depending upon the status of said input buffer (70) at said second controller (10). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIntel Corporation
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Original AssigneeIntel Corporation
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InventorsEbersole, Ronald J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Olms, Douglas W.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Jung, Min
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Application NumberUS07/291,756Time in Patent Office551 DaysField of Search370/94, 370/60, 370/85, 370/86, 370/89US Class Current370/407CPC Class CodesH04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion co...
