Repeater with flow control device transmitting congestion indication data from output port buffer to associated network node upon port input buffer crossing threshold level

A network device for communicating data between multiple nodes of a computer network comprising:

• a multiple of ports for data communication with associated network nodes;
• one or more input buffers associated with each of the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from a network node;
• a signal path for communicating data between the ports;
• a mechanism for routing data between ports by activating only one port at a time to transmit data stored in the input buffer of an activated port through the signal path to the other ports;
• level indicators for the input buffers for indicating the amount of data stored in a buffer;
• output buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from another port;
• and
• a flow control device for monitoring the level indicators to determine if the amount of data in a port input buffer crosses a first threshold level and, if so, inserting congestion indication data into the port output buffer for transmission to the associated network node;
• wherein the flow control device is further constructed for monitoring the level indicators to determine if the amount of data in a port input buffer subsequently crosses a second threshold level and, if so, inserting non-congestion indication data into the port output buffer.

A repeater for communicating data between multiple nodes of a computer network comprising:

• a multiple of ports for full duplex data communication with associated network nodes;
• input buffers associated with each of the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from a network node;
• a bus for communicating data between the ports;
• an arbitration mechanism for routing data between ports by activating only one port at a time to transmit data stored in the input buffer of an activated port through the bus to the other ports;
• level indicators for the input buffers for indicating the amount of data stored in a buffer;
• output buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from another port;
• and
• a flow control device for monitoring the level indicators to determine if the amount of data in a port input buffer crosses a first threshold level and, if so, inserting congestion indication data into the port output buffer for transmission to the associated network node.

A network device for communicating data between multiple nodes of a computer network comprising:

• a multiple of ports for data communication with associated network nodes;
• input buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from a network node;
• level indicators for the input buffers for indicating the amount of data stored in a buffer;
• a signal path for communicating data between the ports;
• output buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from another port;
• and
• a flow control device for monitoring the level indicators to determine if the amount of data in a port input buffer crosses a first threshold level and, if so, inserting congestion indication data into the port output buffer for transmission to the associated network node;
• wherein the flow control device subsequently cancels the congestion indication if the amount of data in a port input buffer crosses a second threshold level.

A method of communicating data between multiple nodes of a computer network, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing a multiple of ports for data communication with associated network nodes;
• providing input buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from a network node;
• providing output buffers associated with the multiple ports for storing data received by a port from another port;
• communicating data stored in the input buffer of a port to other ports by activating only one port at a time to transmit stored data from the Activated port to the other ports;
• monitoring a level indicator to determine the amount of data stored in an input buffer of a port;
• if the amount of data in the input buffer exceeds a given amount, transmitting a congestion indication frame from the output buffer to the node associated with the input buffer's port;
• and
• if the amount of data in the input buffer subsequently falls below another given amount, transmitting a congestion clear indication frame from the output buffer to the node associated with the input buffer's port.