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Network device driver performing initial packet processing within high priority hardware interrupt service routine and then finishing processing within low priority software interrupt service routine

  • US 6,021,446 A
  • Filed: 07/11/1997
  • Issued: 02/01/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing interrupt overhead in device drivers comprising:

  • asserting a high level hardware interrupt in response to a packet arrival through a network device, said packet destined to one of a plurality of data streams;

    assigning a generation number to said one of said plurality of data streams to which said packet is destined;

    associating said generation number with said packet;

    transferring process control from said high level hardware interrupt to a lower level software interrupt allowing other higher priority processes to execute;

    comparing said generation number assigned to said one of said plurality of data streams with said generation number associated with said packet; and

    forwarding said packet to said one of said plurality of data streams if said generation numbers are equal.

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