Stackplane backpressure mechanism for regulating flows of ATM data cells

摘要

A method and apparatus for regulating the flow of an ATM data cell through a plurality of network channel banks coupled via a stackplane. A first network channel bank sends the ATM data cell to a second network channel bank. The ATM data cell is queued in the second network channel bank. The number of ATM data cells in the second network channel bank is determined. When the number of ATM data cells in the second network channel bank exceeds a predetermined threshold, a backpressure signal is sent downstream via the stackplane to the first network channel bank. When the first network channel bank receives the backpressure signal, the sending of further ATM data cells from the first network channel bank to the second network channel bank is delayed.