Patent attributes
A service aware flow control apparatus and method for multiple classes of data packets. A flow control sender includes a buffer of an ingress port per Class Group or Class of Service (COS). A counter per COS tracks an amount of buffer utilization per ingress port per COS, and each counter comprises an XOFF threshold level of congestion and an XON threshold. A controller detects, during transmission of the data packets, a counter associated with a buffer for a particular COS has risen to be greater than or equal to the XOFF threshold level of congestion. A flow control receiver ceases transmission of the data packets to the buffer for the particular COS experiencing congestion and allowing transmission of the data packets corresponding to other COS in the flow control sender.
