Computer interconnect system with transmit-abort function
First Claim
1. A computer interconnect system for packet data transmission between a first node and a second node by an intermediate node, comprising:
- (a) transmit/receive means at said first node coupled by a path to said second node for transmitting a packet to said second node via said intermediate node or for receiving a packet at said first node, said transmit/receive means including means for aborting transmission of a packet before the packet ends when said intermediate node signals by a flow control signal directed to said first node that said packet can not be successfully forwarded by said intermediate node to said second node;
(b) packet buffer means for temporarily storing packets of data received from said path or to be transmitted on said path;
(d) coupling means for transferring packets between said transmit/receive means and said packet buffer means;
(e) processor means, and data transfer means for transferring a packet from said processor means to said packet buffer means before transmission by said transmit/receive means, and for transferring a packet from said packet buffer means to said processor means after receiving said packet by said transmit/receive means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer interconnect system uses packet data transmission over serial links connecting nodes of a network. The serial links may provide simultaneous dual paths for transmit/receive. An adapter couples a CPU or the like at a node to the serial link. The adapter includes a packet memory for temporarily storing transmit packets and receive packets, along with a port processor for executing the protocol. Packets of data are transferred between the system bus of the CPU and the packet memory by a pair of data movers, one for read and one for write. All of the serial links of the system are connected to a distribution hub which forwards a transmitted packet to a destination node based upon an address sent with the packet. If the path to the destination node is busy, the hub returns a "flow control" signal to the source node, and in response to this signal the transmitted packet is aborted so that time on the network is not wasted by needless transmission that must be discarded.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer interconnect system for packet data transmission between a first node and a second node by an intermediate node, comprising:
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(a) transmit/receive means at said first node coupled by a path to said second node for transmitting a packet to said second node via said intermediate node or for receiving a packet at said first node, said transmit/receive means including means for aborting transmission of a packet before the packet ends when said intermediate node signals by a flow control signal directed to said first node that said packet can not be successfully forwarded by said intermediate node to said second node; (b) packet buffer means for temporarily storing packets of data received from said path or to be transmitted on said path; (d) coupling means for transferring packets between said transmit/receive means and said packet buffer means; (e) processor means, and data transfer means for transferring a packet from said processor means to said packet buffer means before transmission by said transmit/receive means, and for transferring a packet from said packet buffer means to said processor means after receiving said packet by said transmit/receive means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a method of transmitting data between a number of nodes via an intermediate node in a computer interconnect system, the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a packet from one of said nodes over a data path directed to another of said nodes via said intermediate node; (b) detecting at said intermediate node a condition of said packet being transmitted and said packet failing to reach said another of said nodes while said step of transmitting is occurring, and sending a signal from said intermediate node to said one of said nodes representing said condition; (c) and aborting said step of transmitting before all of said packet has been transmitted upon receipt of said signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer interconnect adapter for packet data transmission at a node in a network, comprising:
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(a) means in said adapter for transmitting a packet from said node over a transmit path directed to a selected remote node; (b) means in said adapter responsive to a busy signal received on a receive path from an intermediate node upon a condition of said intermediate node being unsuccessful in forwarding said packet to said selected remote node, said signal being received while said packet is being transmitted; (c) said means for transmitting including means for aborting said transmitting of said packet if said busy signal is received. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification