IP Library Granted Patent US 8,171,478
Granted Patent B2
US 8,171,478 · App. 12/306,029 · Granted May 1, 2012

Method for packet flow control using credit parameters with a plurality of limits

Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,171,478
App. No.
12/306,029
Granted
May 1, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a processor ( 1 ) and a method for a processor comprising processing means ( 2 ), the method comprising the steps of—admitting a data packet (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ) to the processing means ( 2 ) based at least partly on a value (CS 1 ) of a first credit, parameter and a first limit (L 1 S 1 ) of the first credit parameter,—decreasing the value (CS 1 ) of the first credit parameter if the data packet (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ) is admitted to the processing means ( 2 ), and—increasing the value (CS 1 ) of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a value (CS 2 ) of a second credit parameter, based on which a data packet (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ) is admitted to the processing means ( 2 ).

Claims (24)

1. A method for a processor comprising processing means, the method comprising the steps of:

admitting a data packet to the processing means based at least partly on a value of a first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and

decreasing the value of the first credit parameter if the data packet is admitted to the processing means, and

increasing the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a value of a second credit parameter, based on which a data packet is admitted to the processing means, the value of the first credit parameter being compared to a second limit of the first credit parameter, the value of the first credit parameter not being increased, so as to become larger than the second limit of the first credit parameter, if the value of the second credit parameter is below a first limit of the second credit parameter.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the second limit of the first credit parameter is higher than the first limit of the first credit parameter.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of increasing the value of the first credit parameter is based at least partly on a first resource or a second resource of the processing means.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first resource is a bit rate capacity of the processing means, and the second resource is a data packet rate capacity of the processing means.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the value of the second credit parameter is decreased if the data packet is admitted to the processing means.

6. A method for a processor comprising processing means, the method comprising the steps of:

admitting a data packet to the processing means based at least partly on a value of a first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and

decreasing the value of the first credit parameter if the data packet is admitted to the processing means, and

increasing the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a data storage level in a buffer in which the data packet is stored before admitted to the processing means, the value of the first credit parameter not being increased, so as to become larger than the second limit of the first credit parameter, if the buffer is empty.

7. A processor comprising processing means, the processor being adapted to:

admit a data packet to the processing means based at least partly on a value of a first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and

decrease the value of the first credit parameter if the data packet is admitted to the processing means, and

increase the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a value of a second credit parameter, based on which a data packet is admitted to the processing means, the processor being adapted to compare the value of the first credit parameter to a second limit of the first credit parameter, and to not increase the value of the first credit parameter, so as to become larger that than the second limit of the first credit parameter, if the value of the second credit parameter is below a first limit of the second credit parameter.

8. A processor according to claim 7 , wherein the second limit of the first credit parameter is higher than the first limit of the first credit parameter.

9. A processor according to claim 7 , adapted to increase, based at least partly on a first resource or a second resource of the processing means, the value of the first credit parameter.

10. A processor according to claim 9 , wherein the first resource is a bit rate capacity of the processing means, and the second resource is a data packet rate capacity of the processing means.

11. A processor according to claim 7 , adapted to decrease the value of the second credit parameter if the data packet is admitted to the processing means.

12. A processor comprising processing means, the processor being adapted to:

admit a data packet to the processing means based at least partly on a value of a first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and

decrease the value of the first credit parameter if the data packet is admitted to the processing means, and

increase the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a data storage level in a buffer adapted to store the data packet before admitted to the processing means, the processor being adapted to not increase the value of the first credit parameter, so as to become larger than the second limit of the first credit parameter, if the buffer is empty.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2020
From: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
To: MARVELL ASIA PTE, LTD.
Reel/Frame 053475/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2020
From: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 052918/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2020
From: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
To: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 051778/0537 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2015
From: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
Reel/Frame 034971/0148 →
LICENSE Recorded Feb 17, 2015
From: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
To: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 034971/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2012
From: MARVELL TECHNOLOGY SWEDEN AB
To: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 028033/0871 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 10, 2012
From: XELERATED NEWCO AB
To: MARVELL TECHNOLOGY SWEDEN AB
Reel/Frame 028164/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2011
From: XELERATED AB
To: XELERATED NEWCO AB
Reel/Frame 027387/0234 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2009
From: CARLSTROM, JAKOB
To: XELERATED AB
Reel/Frame 022303/0782 →
Priority Claims (1)
SE 0601389 · Jun 22, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090183164A1 · Jul 16, 2009