Back to results
US 6,477,145 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for using video memory to buffer data packets for presentation to a data network
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorGregory D. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorGregory D. Moore
Estimating the term…
Router for initiating a data flow control comprises a receiving protocol stack, a controller and an operating system. The controller is programmed to respond to receipt of a congestion message from a fast packet network such as a frame relay or cell relay network to generate a pass through packet message requesting the opening of a virtual data flow control channel between layer N and layer N+2, where typically layer N is layer 2 of a frame relay protocol and layer N+2 is layer 4 of a TCP protocol. Layer 4 may refuse to open the channel, but once a channel is opened, data flow control may be initiated between destination intelligent terminals when congestion is sensed in the fast packet network. Data packets for presentation to a data network can be advantageously stored in buffer memory, which preferably includes unused or otherwise available video display memory.
Router responsive to a congestion message from a network, the router comprising a protocol stack for receiving the congestion message at a layer N, the router further including a controller having an operating system programmed in response to the receipt of a congestion message to generate an N+2 pass through packet protocol data unit for passage up the protocol stack to layer N+2, the protocol data unit for requesting a virtual control channel between layer N and layer N+2, said router further including buffer memory, operatively coupled to said router, buffering data for presentation.
A router comprising a receiving protocol stack, a transmitting protocol stack, an operating system and a controller for operating said operating system, said controller being programmed for response to receipt of a congestion message wherein a congestion bit has changed stated from a no congestion indication to a congestion indication, said controller upon receipt of said congestion indicates in said receiving protocol stack for generation of an N+2 pass through packet at layer 2 of said transmitting protocol stack;
A method for managing data flow in a fast packet network comprising the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.