Methods and apparatuses for processing packets in a credit-based flow control scheme
AssigneeLSI Corporation
InventorsRichard Solomon, Eugene Saghi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for processing a second request before processing of a first request has completed. The first request is associated with a first flow control credit type, and the second request is associated with a second flow control credit type. After a period of time, the second request is selected for processing based on the first flow control credit type and the second flow control credit type.
Claims19
A method for processing, with an electronic device, a second packet descriptor before processing of a first packet descriptor has completed, wherein the first packet descriptor is associated with a first flow control credit type, and wherein the second packet descriptor is associated with a second flow control credit type, the method comprising:
- processing the first packet descriptor;
- stalling the processing of the second packet descriptor;
- selecting, after a period of time, the second packet descriptor for processing based on the first flow control credit type and the second flow control credit type;
- updating the first packet descriptor to reflect a status of the processing of the first packet descriptor;
- and
- processing the second packet descriptor.
An apparatus for processing a second packet descriptor before processing of a first packet descriptor has completed, wherein the first packet descriptor is associated with a first flow control credit type, and wherein the second packet descriptor is associated with a second flow control credit type, the apparatus comprising:
- a processing element for processing the first packet descriptor and the second packet descriptor;
- a stalling element for stalling the processing of the second packet descriptor;
- and
- a selecting element for selecting, after a period of time, the second packet descriptor for processing based on the first flow control credit type and the second flow control credit type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.