Delayed-start method for minimizing internal switch congestion
First Claim
1. A data flow control method within a data switch having a plurality of input sections each including a respective input buffer from which that input section transmits data to an output section through a switching fabric, said data flow control method comprising the steps of:
- defining a plurality of occupancy levels, including a high level and a low level, each uniquely corresponding to a range of input buffer occupancy values;
pausing data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in response to a detection of congestion within said switching fabric or within said output section;
determining input buffer occupancy of the input buffer of each of said plurality of input sections during said pause;
computing a delay interval based upon said input buffer occupancy; and
delaying restart of data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in accordance with said computed delay interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data flow control method and system within a data switch. The data switch includes a plurality of input sections each having an associated input buffer and each transmitting data to an output section. In response to a detection of congestion within the output section, data transmissions from the plurality of input sections to the output section are paused. Input buffer occupancies of each of the input sections are then determined. Thereafter, and in response to a backpressure relief signal, the restart of said data transmission from each of the input sections to the output section is delayed in inverse proportion to each of the determined input buffer occupancies.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A data flow control method within a data switch having a plurality of input sections each including a respective input buffer from which that input section transmits data to an output section through a switching fabric, said data flow control method comprising the steps of:
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defining a plurality of occupancy levels, including a high level and a low level, each uniquely corresponding to a range of input buffer occupancy values; pausing data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in response to a detection of congestion within said switching fabric or within said output section; determining input buffer occupancy of the input buffer of each of said plurality of input sections during said pause; computing a delay interval based upon said input buffer occupancy; and delaying restart of data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in accordance with said computed delay interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A data flow control system within a data switch having a plurality of input sections each including a respective input buffer from which that input section transmits data to an output section through a switching fabric, said data flow control system comprising:
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means for defining a plurality of occupancy levels, including a high level and a low level, each uniquely corresponding to a range of input buffer occupancy values; means for pausing data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in response to a detection of congestion within said switching fabric or within said output section; means for determining input buffer occupancy of the input buffer of each of said plurality of input sections during said pause; and means for computing a delay interval based upon said determined input buffer occupancy and for delaying restart of data transmission from said plurality of input sections to said output section in accordance with said computed delay interval. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification