Apparatus for performing a packet flow control and method of performing the packet flow control

An apparatus for performing a packet flow control in a device having a packet memory, the device for connecting to a plurality of remote devices, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of port interface devices which transmit packets to and receive packets from the remote devices, respectively;
• a plurality of port controllers which generate a packet flow control request signal that is active when the packet memory is in an overflow condition and which generate a packet transmission request signal that is active when a packet stored in the packet memory is to be transmitted to at least one of the remote devices;
• a plurality of media access control (MAC) devices which execute a packet flow control operation when the packet flow control request signal generated by the port controllers is active, wherein the packet flow control operation comprises transmitting a given bit stream to the remote devices via the respective port interface devices, and aborting the transmission of the given bit stream and transmitting a packet from the packet memory when the packet transmission request signal becomes active while the packet flow control request signal is active.