Data buffering
First Claim
1. A method for bridging between a first data link carrying data units in accordance with a first data protocol and a second data link for carrying data units in accordance with a second protocol by a bridging device, the first and second protocols being such that data units in accordance with each protocol include protocol data and traffic data and the bridging device comprising one or more processors configured to provide a first interface entity for interfacing with the first data link, a second interface entity for interfacing with the second data link, and a protocol processing entity, the bridging device further comprising a memory having a plurality of buffer regions accessible by the first interface entity, the second interface entity and the protocol processing entity, the method comprising:
- receiving at the first interface entity data units in accordance with the first protocol, and storing at least the traffic data of those data units in a first memory buffer region;
receiving a call from the protocol processing entity, at the first interface entity, and returning in response thereto a message comprising a reference to the first memory buffer region and at least some protocol data, control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said protocol processing entity;
performing, in response to said message, by the protocol processing entity, protocol processing for those data units, control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said second interface entity; and
accessing by the second interface entity the traffic data of data units stored in the memory buffer and thereby transmitting that traffic data over the second data link in data units in accordance with the second data protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for bridging between a first data link carrying data units of a first data protocol and a second data link for carrying data units of a second protocol by means of a bridging device. This method may comprise receiving by means of a first interface entity data units of a first protocol, and storing those data units in the memory. Then, accessing by means of a protocol processing entity the protocol data of data units stored in the memory and thereby performing protocol processing for those data units under the first protocol. The method also accesses by means of a second interface entity the traffic data of data units stored in the memory and thereby transmits that traffic data over the second data link in data units of the second data protocol.
155 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for bridging between a first data link carrying data units in accordance with a first data protocol and a second data link for carrying data units in accordance with a second protocol by a bridging device, the first and second protocols being such that data units in accordance with each protocol include protocol data and traffic data and the bridging device comprising one or more processors configured to provide a first interface entity for interfacing with the first data link, a second interface entity for interfacing with the second data link, and a protocol processing entity, the bridging device further comprising a memory having a plurality of buffer regions accessible by the first interface entity, the second interface entity and the protocol processing entity, the method comprising:
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receiving at the first interface entity data units in accordance with the first protocol, and storing at least the traffic data of those data units in a first memory buffer region; receiving a call from the protocol processing entity, at the first interface entity, and returning in response thereto a message comprising a reference to the first memory buffer region and at least some protocol data, control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said protocol processing entity; performing, in response to said message, by the protocol processing entity, protocol processing for those data units, control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said second interface entity; and accessing by the second interface entity the traffic data of data units stored in the memory buffer and thereby transmitting that traffic data over the second data link in data units in accordance with the second data protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A bridging device for bridging between a first data link carrying data units in accordance with a first data protocol and a second data link for carrying data units in accordance with a second protocol, the first and second protocols being such that data units in accordance with each protocol include protocol data and traffic data and the bridging device comprising:
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one or more processors configured to provide a first interface entity for interfacing with the first data link, a second interface entity for interfacing with the second data link, and a protocol processing entity; the first interface entity being arranged to; receive data units in accordance with the first protocol; store those data units in a first memory buffer region; and in response to receipt of a call from the protocol processing entity, return a message thereto comprising a reference to the first memory buffer region and at least some protocol data, control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said protocol processing entity; the protocol processing entity being arranged to; perform protocol processing for those data units; and control of said first memory buffer region being handed over to said second interface entity; and the second interface entity being arranged to access the traffic data of data units stored in the memory buffer and thereby transmit that traffic data over the second data link in data units in accordance with the second data protocol.
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20. A bridging device for bridging between a first data link carrying data units in accordance with a first data protocol and a second data link for carrying data units in accordance with a second protocol, the first and second protocols being such that data units in accordance with each protocol include protocol data and traffic data, the bridging device comprising:
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an interface for interfacing with said first data link; and one or more processors configured to provide a protocol processing entity, wherein said interface is configured to perform at least some protocol processing for data units received over the first data link, and respond to at least one message from said protocol processing entity with a reference to a memory buffer region in which one or more data units are stored, control of said memory buffer region being handed over to said protocol processing entity by removing said memory buffer from an owned buffer list of the interface and adding said memory buffer to an owned buffer list of the protocol processing entity, and the protocol processing entity is arranged to cause said one or more processors of the bridging device to perform protocol processing for said data units stored in said memory buffer without accessing the traffic data of those data units stored in said memory buffer.
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Specification