METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING THE MANAGAMENT OF DATA PACKETS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for improving the management of received data packets of a host system that comprises a plurality of data buffers and a plurality of descriptors that corresponds to a subset of the plurality of data buffers to manage the received data packets, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a data packet;
a first storage unit for storing the data packet from the receiver;
a counter for monitoring the number of descriptors in a first state to produce a count value;
a second storage unit for storing a threshold value; and
a comparator for comparing the count value with the threshold value and producing a comparison signal;
wherein the apparatus issues a first event to the host system according to the comparison signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for improving the management of data packets received from a network comprises a receiver for receiving data packets, a first storage unit for storing data packets, a counter for storing a count value, a second storage unit for storing a threshold value, and a comparator for comparing the count value against the threshold value wherein when count value reaches the threshold value, the apparatus issues a first event. A method for improving the management of data packets received from a network comprises receiving a data packet from the network, transferring the data packet into at least one data buffer, monitoring the number of unavailable descriptors, comparing the number of unavailable descriptors with a threshold value, and triggering a first event when the count value reaches the threshold value.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for improving the management of received data packets of a host system that comprises a plurality of data buffers and a plurality of descriptors that corresponds to a subset of the plurality of data buffers to manage the received data packets, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a data packet;
a first storage unit for storing the data packet from the receiver;
a counter for monitoring the number of descriptors in a first state to produce a count value;
a second storage unit for storing a threshold value; and
a comparator for comparing the count value with the threshold value and producing a comparison signal;
wherein the apparatus issues a first event to the host system according to the comparison signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for improving the management of received data packets of a host system that comprises a plurality of data buffers and a plurality of descriptors that corresponds to a subset of the data buffers to manage the received data packets, the method comprising:
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receiving a data packet;
transferring the data packet into at least one of the data buffers;
monitoring an amount of the descriptors in a first state;
comparing the amount with a threshold value to generator a comparison signal; and
generating a first event to the host system according to the comparison signal to prevent all the descriptors from being in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for improving the management of data packets received from a network by a host system that comprises a plurality of data buffers and that utilizes a plurality of descriptors that corresponds to a subset of the plurality of data buffers to manage the data packets received from the network, the method comprising:
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receiving a data packet from the network;
transferring the data packet into at least one of the data buffers;
monitoring the number of descriptors that will have their state changed when the data packet is transferred;
calculating a count value according to the number of descriptors that will have had their state changed by the data packet being transferred; and
comparing the count value with a threshold value, and triggering a first event to the host system when the count value reaches the threshold value;
wherein the first event notifies the host system to clear the data buffers corresponding to the descriptors.
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Specification