Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A receive buffer management system associates a virtual buffer pool with each node communicating with a receiver and creates an actual buffer pool for use by all nodes, with a 'low-water-mark' indicating buffers are running out and a 'high-water-mark' indicating enough buffers are available. Each time a buffer is taken a count is added to the virtual pool for that sending node and each time a buffer is returned to the actual pool, the counter for the sending node's virtual pool is decremented. Each virtual pool has a quota. Buffers are allocated until the number of buffers in the actual buffer pool drops below the low-water-mark. Then packets from a node above its quota will be discarded and those buffers will be immediately returned to the actual pool. Packets will be discarded for all over-quota nodes until those nodes drop below their quota or the actual pool reaches the high-water-mark. Alternatively, a sliding window acknowledgement replaces the virtual pool and counter. A receiver guarantees a transmitting node some maximum number of unacknowledged packets. A low-water-mark indicates when buffers are running out, and a maximum-locked-threshold specifies the maximum number of buffers that can be locked by the other local users. Requests above this will block. A receiver finished with a buffer returns it. When available buffers rise above the low-water-mark, acknowledges and buffer requests are enabled. Ensuing acknowledges enable transmission from waiting nodes.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim