Storing data packets

• US 20050038902A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Maharana, Suryakant, Krishnamurthi, Raju, Yadlapati, Padmini
• Application Number:
  US10/642,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for processing data packets are described. The method stores a data packet in a memory location and locks the data packet memory location when the data packet is an IP multicast packet. The method can also set a count equal to a number of transmission ports of the data packet, decrement the memory count after each transmission of the data packet and make the memory location unlockable when the status count is equal to a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method for processing data packets comprises:

storing a data packet in a memory location and

locking the memory location when the data packet is an internet protocol multicast packet.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

setting a count based on a number of transmission ports of the data packet.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises:

decrementing the count after each transmission of the data packet.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprises:

making the memory location unlockable when the status count is equal to a predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory location is locked when the data packet is a first replication of an internet protocol multicast packet with multiple replications.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

unlocking the memory location when the data packet is a last replication of an internet protocol multicast packet.

7. A computer program product, disposed on a computer readable medium, for processing data packets comprises instruction for causing a processor to:

store a data packet in a memory location and

lock the data packet memory location when the data packet is an internet protocol multicast packet.

8. The program of claim 7 further comprises instruction for causing a processor to:

set a count based on a number of transmission ports of the data packet.

9. The program of claim 8 further comprises instruction for causing a processor to:

decrement the count after each transmission of the data packet.

10. The program of claim 8 further comprises instructions for causing a processor to:

make the memory location unlockable when the status count is equal to a predetermined value.

11. The program of claim 7 wherein instructions to locking the memory location occur when the data packet is a first replication of an internet protocol multicast packet with multiple replications.

12. The program of claim 7 further comprises instructions for causing a processor to:

unlock the memory location when the data packet is a last replication of an internet protocol multicast packet.

13. A system for processing a data packet, the system comprises:

at least one communication port;

at least one Ethernet MAC (Medium Access Control) device coupled to at least one of the at least one communication ports;

at least one processor having access to the at least one Ethernet MAC device; and

instructions for causing at least one processor to;

store a data packet in a memory location and

lock the data packet memory location when the data packet is an internet protocol multicast packet.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprises instruction for causing at least one processor to:

set a count based on a number of transmission ports of the data packet.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprises instruction for causing at least one processor to:

decrement the count after each transmission of the data packet.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprises instruction for causing at least one processor to:

make the memory location unlockable when the status count is equal to a predetermined value.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein instructions for causing at least one processor to locking the memory location occur when the data packet is a first replication of an internet protocol multicast packet with multiple replications.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprises instructions for causing at least one processor to:

unlock the memory location when the data packet is a last replication of an internet protocol multicast packet.

19. A device for processing data packets comprises:

a module to store a data packet in a memory location and

a module to lock the data packet memory location when the data packet is an internet protocol multicast packet.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprises:

a module to set a count based on a number of transmission ports of the data packet.

21. The device of claim 20 further comprises:

a module to decrement the count after each transmission of the data packet.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprises:

a module to make the memory location unlockable when the status count is equal to a predetermined value.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the module to lock the memory location occurs when the data packet is a first replication of an internet protocol multicast packet with multiple replications.

24. The device of claim 20 further comprises:

a module to unlock the memory location when the data packet is a last replication of an internet protocol multicast packet.