Importance

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Abstract

A flow control technique for wide area ATM networks is disclosed in which allocation of buffers in a receiver switch is controlled by a transmitter switch. The receiver switch periodically transmits feedback messages to the transmitter switch indicatative of the state of fullness of the receiver switch buffers. The transmitter switch calculates updated receiver buffer fullness based upon the feedback message and the number of cells transmitted from the transmitter switch to the receiver switch since the feedback message was sent. Transmission of cells from the transmitter switch to the receiver switch is then controlled in accordance with an allocation technique, thereby allocating buffers in the receiving switch. The technique may be a roll-off technique in which the number of buffers available to each flow in the transmitter switch is reduced geometrically as the updated receiver buffer state is calculated to be more full. The flow control technique may be applied on either a per link or a per flow basis.

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First Claim