METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED THROUGHPUT IN A MULTI-NODE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH A SHARED RESOURCE

摘要

A non-quota access indicator is circulated among nodes in a multi-node quota based communication system with a shared resource, indicating maximum possible non - quota access to the shared resource to a given node receiving same. Upon arrival at a nod e, the indicator is saved and then updated to reflect the current status of that node as either starved or satisfied, the former being a condition of currently having quota remaining and a share d resource access requirement, and the latter being a condition of either currently having no remaining quota or having no current shared resource access requirement. After updating, the no de immediately propagates the indicator to the next node in the system. When a node without quota requires access to the shared resource, it compares its requirement to the last store d indicator and accesses the shared resource if the stored indicator is equal to or greater than the access requirement.