Abstract: A scheme for sharing a common virtual connection identifier between end-nodes, which enable sharing of a common identifier of a sufficient information length at both end-nodes of a virtual connection. In this scheme, the first message containing a first identifier for provisionally identifying a virtual connection commonly between neighboring nodes is exchanged between neighboring nodes, at a time of setting up the virtual connection. Then, the second message containing a second identifier having a larger information size than the first identifier for formally identifying the virtual connection commonly between neighboring nodes, in a form that enables establishing of a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier, is exchanged between neighboring nodes through another virtual connection different from the virtual connection to be set up.

Abstract: In a data communication system composed of plural equipment, there are provided display means for displaying the connection relationship among the plural equipment, and designation means for designating a specified equipment displayed by the display means. The user can easily confirm the connection state and the connection position of the specified equipment, by effecting communication for confirming the connection relationship of the specified equipment, according to the designation by the designation means. Also the user can easily understand the flow of the signals in the data communication system, by displaying the channel information, indicating the data flow among the equipment, and the equipment information.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling the transfer of data arranged in frames between a host and network device, such as an HDLC controller, having a shared system memory is disclosed. A frame is received within frame data buffers of the shared system memory. A single frame can span more than three frame data buffers. A descriptor ring has respective descriptors that describe and point to a respective frame data buffer and ownership by either the host or device. The descriptors for an associated frame data buffer that received a frame are placed together to form a descriptor chain having first and last descriptors. Only the first and last descriptors are updated within the descriptor chain to grant ownership of first and last descriptors and any intermediate descriptors to a desired host or device to enhance bus utilization.

Abstract: In an information handling system, a relay server provides links for communicating with network resources, via a network comprising a plurality of network units, for client communication units having unsigned Java applets that request a network resource from a target remote server on the network. The request is a signal that identifies the target unit within the network as a source of said network resource. The relay server accomplishes this by establishing a double link between the unsigned applet and the target unit for providing at least the requested network resource.

Abstract: An address look-up mechanism in a multi-port bridge for controlling use of a memory as a look-up table for appropriately filtering and directing packets. The look-up table includes learned look-up tables, permanent look-up tables and linked lists. As a data packet originating from a node (source node) is received by a corresponding one of the ports (source port) of the multi-port bridge, a look-up cycle and then a learning cycle are each performed. During the learning cycle, an identification of the source port for the packet is stored in the learned look-up tables in association with a hashed node address of the source node. Each existing entry is examined to ensure that the appropriate port identification is stored and to determine whether two or more nodes share a same hashed node address. If two nodes have the same hashed node address, then a linked entry in the linked lists is formed.

Abstract: A reception indicator circuit is provided for use in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus enables a host system to receive information packets from a medium. The reception indicator circuit has a delay calculator, a byte count comparator and a signal asserter. The delay calculator selects and reads a reference delay value in one of N number of length-delay data storage elements. A reference length value contained in the one of N number of length-delay data storage elements corresponds to a length value of an information packet being received by the apparatus. The length value of the information packet is determined based on data in the information packet. The byte count comparator detects when the reference delay value number of bytes in the information packet have been received by the apparatus. The signal asserter asserts a reception indication signal when the byte count comparator detects that the reference delay value number of bytes in the information packet have been received by the apparatus.

Abstract: Permission based flow control is implemented in a computer network having at least a downstream, intermediate and upstream network device by receiving credits at the intermediate network device from the downstream network device and granting credits from the intermediate network device to the upstream network device based at least in part upon the credits received at the intermediate network device from the downstream network device. Credit chaining as described above is employed to permit the granting of the right to transmit downstream to be predicated upon buffer availability downstream of the next downstream network device. Via the use of credit chaining, high utilization of network resources is achieved with minimal loss of data traffic.