Multiple priority buffering in a computer network
First Claim
1. A buffer element for a communication network, the buffer element comprising:
- a first buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a first quality of service level;
a second buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a second quality of service level; and
a buffer manager, coupled to the first buffer memory and the second buffer memory, to selectively store communication units in the first buffer and the second buffer based on a corresponding quality of service level of the communication units, and to retrieve communication units from the first buffer memory and the second buffer memory.
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Abstract
Buffer element for communication network, including a first buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a first quality of service (QOS) level, and a second buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a second quality of service level. A buffer manager selectively stores communication units from the first and second buffers based on the corresponding quality of service level, and retrieves communication units from the first and second buffer memories. The buffer manager includes a sorter unit for selectively storing based on the quality of service level. The buffer element may further include a depth adjuster to adjust the depth of the first and second buffer memory.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A buffer element for a communication network, the buffer element comprising:
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a first buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a first quality of service level;
a second buffer memory to store communication units corresponding to a second quality of service level; and
a buffer manager, coupled to the first buffer memory and the second buffer memory, to selectively store communication units in the first buffer and the second buffer based on a corresponding quality of service level of the communication units, and to retrieve communication units from the first buffer memory and the second buffer memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A switch for a communication network, the switch comprising:
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a plurality of ports;
a first buffer memory coupled to one of the ports to store communication units corresponding to a first quality of service level; and
a second buffer memory coupled to the one of the ports to store communication units corresponding to a second quality of service level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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18. A method buffering communication units in a communication network, the method comprising steps of:
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assigning a queue depth for each of a plurality of queues, each queue being designated to store communication units of a predetermined quality of service level;
providing the plurality of queues, each queue having the corresponding assigned depth;
selecting one of the queues to receive a communication unit based on a quality of service level associated with the communication unit; and
storing the communication unit in the selected queue.
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30. A method of selecting a communication unit, for transmission in a communication network that provides a plurality of quality of service levels, the communication unit being selected from a plurality of communication units stored in a buffer, the buffer including a plurality of queues, each queue corresponding to one of the quality of service levels, the method comprising steps of:
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identifying the queue with the highest corresponding quality of service level and which is not empty; and
selecting the communication unit from the identified queue.
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31. A method of storing a communication unit in a buffer, the communication unit having one of a plurality of quality of service levels, the buffer including a plurality of queues, each queue corresponding to one of the quality of service levels, the method comprising steps of:
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determining the quality of service level of the communication unit; and
storing the communication unit in the queue having the corresponding quality of service level of the communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification