Credit flow control for ethernet
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network controller to communicate with a link partner, the network controller comprising:
- data frame circuitry to generate a data frame, the data frame including a user priority field to represent at least one traffic class;
media access control (MAC) circuitry to generate a MAC credit flow control frame to be exchanged with the link partner to monitor and track available credit, wherein the MAC credit flow control frame includes;
at least one field for specifying credit for the at least one traffic class wherein the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class;
an opcode field to identify the MAC credit flow control frame as a credit-based flow control frame; and
a credit enable vector field to indicate if a credit vector is valid for a traffic class;
transmit scheduler circuitry to send data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class; and
credit management circuitry to;
increment at least one counter corresponding to a traffic class for which a received credit was specified; and
decrement the at least one counter when at least one data packet corresponding to the at least one traffic class is sent to the link partner.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment provides a method for enabling class-based credit flow control for a network node in communication with a link partner using an Ethernet communications protocol. The method includes receiving a control frame from the link partner. The control frame includes at least one field for specifying credit for at least one traffic class and the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class. The method further includes sending data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class.
4 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A network controller to communicate with a link partner, the network controller comprising:
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data frame circuitry to generate a data frame, the data frame including a user priority field to represent at least one traffic class; media access control (MAC) circuitry to generate a MAC credit flow control frame to be exchanged with the link partner to monitor and track available credit, wherein the MAC credit flow control frame includes; at least one field for specifying credit for the at least one traffic class wherein the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class; an opcode field to identify the MAC credit flow control frame as a credit-based flow control frame; and a credit enable vector field to indicate if a credit vector is valid for a traffic class; transmit scheduler circuitry to send data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class; and credit management circuitry to; increment at least one counter corresponding to a traffic class for which a received credit was specified; and decrement the at least one counter when at least one data packet corresponding to the at least one traffic class is sent to the link partner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for enabling class-based credit flow control for a network controller in communication with a link partner, comprising:
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receiving a Media Access Control (MAC) credit flow control frame from the link partner, wherein the MAC credit flow control frame includes; at least one field for specifying credit for at least one traffic class, wherein the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class; an opcode field to identify the MAC credit flow control frame as a credit-based flow control frame; and a credit enable vector field to indicate if a credit vector is valid for a traffic class; incrementing at least one counter corresponding to the at least one traffic class for which the credit was specified; generating, using data frame circuitry, a data frame including a user priority field to represent at least one traffic class; sending data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class; and decrementing the at least one counter when at least one data packet corresponding to the traffic class is sent to the link partner. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor result in the following operations for enabling class-based credit flow control for a network controller in communication with a link partner, comprising:
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receive a Media Access Control (MAC) credit flow control frame from the link partner, wherein the MAC credit flow control frame includes; at least one field for specifying credit for at least one traffic class, wherein the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class; an opcode field to identify the MAC credit flow control frame as a credit-based flow control frame; and a credit enable vector field to indicate if a credit vector is valid for a traffic class; generate, using data frame circuitry, a data frame including a user priority field to represent at least one traffic class; increment the at least one counter corresponding to the at least one traffic class for which the credit was specified; send data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class; and decrement the at least one counter when at least one data packet corresponding to the traffic class is sent to the link partner. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for enabling class-based credit flow control for a network controller in communication with a link partner, comprising:
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means for receiving a Media Access Control (MAC) credit flow control frame from the link partner, wherein the MAC credit flow control frame includes; at least one field for specifying credit for at least one traffic class, wherein the credit is based on available space in a receive buffer associated with the at least one traffic class; an opcode field to identify the MAC credit flow control frame as a credit-based flow control frame; and a credit enable vector field to indicate if a credit vector is valid for a traffic class; means for incrementing at least one counter corresponding to the at least one traffic class for which the credit was specified; means for generating a data frame, the data frame including a user priority field to represent at least one traffic class; means for sending data packets to the link partner based on the credit, the data packets associated with the at least one traffic class; and means for decrementing the at least one counter when at least one data packet corresponding to the at least one traffic class is sent to the link partner. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification