Full duplex flow control for Ethernet networks

A method for providing full duplex flow control in a full duplex Ethernet network, comprising:

• receiving a flow control signal at a source station;
• responsive to receiving the flow control signal, starting a timer having an expiration time, wherein said timer is implemented in a medium access control layer of said source station;
• and
• delaying transmission from said source station until at least the expiration time;
• wherein said timer is a timer other than a back-off timer applied after a collision.

A method for providing full duplex flow control in a manner operable with an IEEE 802.3 standard, comprising:

• at a transmitting endstation, deferring transmission during a period of time measured by a timer maintained by a medium access control layer of the transmitting endstation;
• receiving a flow control signal from a destination endstation, wherein the flow control signal is compliant with the IEEE 802.3 standard;
• and
• responsive to receiving the flow control signal, resuming transmission from the transmitting endstation.

A flow control method for use with a full duplex Ethernet network that includes at least a source endstation coupled by a medium to a destination endstation for transmission of signals therebetween, comprising:

• establishing a communication connection between the source endstation and the destination endstation for the purpose of exchanging data;
• upon receipt of a transmit off message at the source endstation from the destination endstation, pausing the transmission of data from the source endstation;
• and
• resuming the transmission of data from the source endstation upon expiration of a timer maintained in a medium access control (MAC) layer of the source endstation.

A flow control method for use with a full duplex Ethernet network that includes at least a source station coupled by a medium to a destination station for transmission of signals therebetween, comprising:

• receiving a pause command from a destination station at a source station;
• and
• halting the transmission of data from the source station to the destination station until one of:
• an expiration of a given time measured by a medium access control layer of the source station;
• and
• receipt of a resume command from the destination station.

A method of performing flow control between a first communication endstation and a second communication endstation, comprising:

• establishing a communication connection between a first endstation and a second endstation;
• receiving a first flow control signal at the first endstation from the second endstation;
• in response to said first flow control signal, asserting a Carrier Sense (CRS) signal toward a medium access control (MAC) layer in the first endstation to defer transmission from the first endstation to the second endstation;
• and
• de-asserting said CRS signal in response to one of:
• a second flow control signal from the second endstation;
• and
• expiration of a timer initiated in response to said first flow control signal.

A method of applying flow control between endstation in a communication network, comprising:

• establishing a communication connection between a first endstation and a second endstation in a communication network in order to exchange data;
• transmitting one or more communication units from the first endstation to the second endstation;
• receiving at the first endstation a first flow control signal from the second endstation;
• initiating, in a medium access control (MAC) layer of the first endstation, a delay timer;
• and
• delaying transmission of a next communication unit from the first endstation to the second endstation until one of:
• said delay timer expires;
• and
• a second flow control signal countermanding said first flow control signal is received at the first endstation from the second endstation.