Flow control mechanism in a data processing pipeline

A method, comprising:

• monitoring available capacity of a data buffer using a processor, said data buffer located between two adjacent processing stations;
• determining if the available capacity of said data buffer has reached a first threshold;
• generating a feedback control signal to said processor if said first threshold is reached;
• and
• generating a hold signal from said processor to an upstream processing station, said hold signal generated in response to said feedback control signal, said hold signal used to inhibit data transmission at said upstream processing station, said processor, said data buffer, and said processing stations used for regulating data flow in a video processing system.

A system, comprising:

• a processor that executes a software/firmware;
• a data buffer;
• a processing station, comprising switching circuitry, the data buffer used to buffer a corresponding processing station;
• and
• wherein the software/firmware is configured to generate a signal for inhibiting transmission of data packets at the processing station by way of disabling data transmission using said switching circuitry, the signal being generated in response to a feedback control signal generated by the processing station, said processor, said data buffer, and said processing station being used to regulate data transmission in a data processing pipeline of a video processing system.