Flow control using output port buffer allocation

A method of controlling the flow of information in an information network having an information network switch comprising:

• allocating a first portion of a buffer of an output port of the information network switch for holding information packets received via a first input port of the information network switch;
• allocating a second portion of the buffer for holding information packets received via a second input port of the information network switch;
• determining a level of occupancy of the first portion of the buffer;
• determining a level of occupancy of the second portion of the buffer;
• providing a control signal to a first information packet source operably coupled to the first input port to inhibit the first information packet source from transmitting information packets to the first input port in response to the level of occupancy of the first portion of the buffer exceeding a first level;
• providing a control signal to a second information packet source operably coupled to the second input port to inhibit the second information packet source from transmitting information packets to the second input port in response to the level of occupancy of the second portion of the buffer exceeding a first level.

An information network switch comprising:

• an output port for transmitting information packets to an information packet destination operably coupled to the output port, the output port including:
• a buffer for holding information packets to be transmitted to the information packet destination;
• the output port having a non hold state and a hold state, in the non hold state, the output port transmits information packets in the output buffer to the information packet destination, the output port transiting to the hold state from the non hold state in response to the information network switch receiving a control signal provided by the information packet destination;
• in the hold state, the output port having a first sub-state and a second sub-state, in a first sub-state, the output port transmits information packets in the output buffer to the information packet destination, in the second sub-state, the output port not transmitting information packets to the information packet destination;
• the output port transiting to the first sub-state from the second sub-state in response to the level of occupancy of the buffer exceeding a first level.

An information network switch comprising:

• a plurality of input ports for receiving information packets from information packet sources;
• a plurality of output ports for transmitting information packets received from the input ports to information packet destinations, each output port including a buffer for holding received information packets to be transmitted from the output port;
• means for implementing an allocated usage of each output port among the input ports, the means for implementing further including:
• means for allocating a portion of each buffer of each output port of the plurality to each input port;
• and
• means for providing a control signal to an information packet source operably coupled to an input port of the plurality to inhibit the information packet source from transmitting information packets to the input port in response to the level of occupancy of a portion of a buffer of an output port of the plurality allocated to the input port exceeding a first level.