Network control information without reserved bandwidth

摘要

Apparatus and method for transmitting control information in a multidimensional computer network are disclosed herein. A multidimensional computer network consists of a number of homogeneous or heterogeneous processing sites, called nodes. All that is required of a node is that it be able to receive data blocks from other nodes and send data blocks to other nodes. Interconnecting the nodes are links which connect the nodes in a regular or irregular pattern. The invention applies to multidimensional, or parallel, networks as well as to single dimensional networks where only one path exists between any two nodes. The invention improves upon the prior art by stealing bandwidth from the data transmission facilities on demand without requiring prior reservation of a fixed amount of bandwidth. The bandwidth is used to transmit control information in small data transmissions.