Arrangement for determining link latency for maintaining flow control in full-duplex networks
First Claim
1. A method of determining a link latency between stations on a network, comprising the steps of:
- placing a physical layer of a remote station into a remote loopback configuration such that all data received from the network is transmitted back onto the network;
transmitting a specified data pattern from a local station to the remote station;
detecting at the local station the specified data pattern that has been transmitted back onto the network by the remote station; and
determining the link latency between the local station and the remote station as a function of the time elapsed between the transmitting of the specified data pattern from the local station and the detecting of the specified data pattern at the local station.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for more precise controlling of congestion on a network, provides for remote controlling of a remote station on the network by a local station to configure the remote station into a remote loopback configuration. With the remote station thus configured, the local station is then able to determine the link latency of the link, during auto-negotiation, for example. Provided with the link latency, a congestion control algorithm in the local station may be adjusted to account for the link latency to better control the input data streams by controlling when the congestion relieving control signal, such as a PAUSE frame, is transmitted to the remote station to inhibit transmission and relieve congestion.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of determining a link latency between stations on a network, comprising the steps of:
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placing a physical layer of a remote station into a remote loopback configuration such that all data received from the network is transmitted back onto the network;
transmitting a specified data pattern from a local station to the remote station;
detecting at the local station the specified data pattern that has been transmitted back onto the network by the remote station; and
determining the link latency between the local station and the remote station as a function of the time elapsed between the transmitting of the specified data pattern from the local station and the detecting of the specified data pattern at the local station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
placing a physical layer of the local station into a remote loopback configuration such that all data received from the network is transmitted back onto the network;
transmitting a specified data pattern from the remote station to the local station;
detecting at the remote station the specified data pattern that has been transmitted back onto the network by the local station; and
determining the link latency between the remote station and the local station as a function of the time elapsed between the transmitting of the specified data pattern from the remote station and the detecting of the specified data pattern at the remote station.
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7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a link complete test signal prior to the transmitting of the specified data pattern to test whether the physical layer of the remote station is in the remote loopback configuration and the link between the local station and the remote station is complete.
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8. A method of controlling a remote station on a network, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a remote loopback control signal from a local station to a remote station;
detecting at the remote station the reception of the remote loopback control signal; and
configuring the remote station in response to the reception of the remote loopback control signal such that all data received from the network is transmitted back onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of controlling congestion at a local station in a network, comprising the steps of:
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placing a physical layer of a remote station into a remote loopback configuration such that all data received from the network is transmitted back onto the network;
transmitting a specified data pattern from a local station to the remote station;
detecting at the local station the specified data pattern that has been transmitted back onto the network by the remote station;
determining a link latency between the local station and the remote station as a function of the time elapsed between the transmitting of the specified data pattern from the local station and the detecting of the specified data pattern at the local station; and
transmitting a congestion relieving signal from the local station to the remote station as a function of the determined link latency. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A physical layer device connecting a station to a network, comprising:
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a transmit side which transmits data from the station onto the network;
a receive side which receives data from the network and provides the data to the station;
a configurable internal routing arrangement remotely controllable in response to a remote loopback configuration signal received from the network to couple the receive side to the transmit side such that all data received from the network is transmitted directly back onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification