Interconnect and method of operation of such an interconnect

A method of operating an interconnect that has a plurality of nodes, and a ring network to which each of the nodes is connected to allow packets to be transmitted between nodes, the method comprising:

• for an ordered sequence of packets, arranging one of the nodes as a source node to add each packet of the ordered sequence onto the ring network and another of the nodes as a destination node to remove each packet of the ordered sequence from the ring network;
• enabling the source node, by default, to add a packet of the ordered sequence onto the ring network without waiting for a previously added packet of the ordered sequence to be removed from the ring network by the destination node;
• when the destination node is unable to accept a given packet of the ordered sequence that is currently being presented to the destination node by the ring network, retaining that given packet on the ring network and continuing to transmit that given packet around the ring network such that after a respin period that given packet will be presented again to the destination node;
• and
• preventing the destination node from accepting at least any other packets of the ordered sequence subsequently presented to the destination node by the ring network until the destination node has accepted the given packet following at least one respin period;
• monitoring, by the source node, each packet routed via the source node by the ring network;
• and
• responsive to detecting any packet of the ordered sequence being routed via the source node by the ring network, disabling the adding of at least any further packets of the ordered sequence to the ring network for at least one respin period.

An interconnect comprising:

• a plurality of node means, each of the node means including at least one of a processor and a memory;
• a ring network means to which each of the node means is connected to allow packets to be transmitted between the node means;
• for an ordered sequence of packets, one of the node means being arranged as a source node means for adding each packet of the ordered sequence onto the ring network means and another of the node means being arranged as a destination node means for removing each packet of the ordered sequence from the ring network means;
• wherein:
• the source node means is enabled, by default, for adding a packet of the ordered sequence onto the ring network means without waiting for a previously added packet of the ordered sequence to be removed from the ring network means by the destination node means;
• when the destination node means is unable to accept a given packet of the ordered sequence that is currently being presented to the destination node means by the ring network means, that given packet remains on the ring network and continues to be transmitted around the ring network means such that after a respin period that given packet will be presented again to the destination node means;
• the destination node means for preventing acceptance of at least any other packets of the ordered sequence subsequently presented to the destination node means by the ring network means until the destination node means has accepted the given packet following at least one respin period;
• the source node means is arranged to monitor each packet routed via the source node means by the ring network means;
• and
• the source node means is arranged, responsive to detecting any packet of the ordered sequence being routed via the source node means by the ring network means, to disable adding of at least any further packets of the ordered sequence to the ring network means for at least one respin period.