Method and apparatus for internetworking buffer management
First Claim
1. A method of receiving and transmitting a data block in a network gateway having a buffer set addressed by buffer lists, the buffer set associated with a port set, the method comprising:
- receiving said data block at a first port of said port set;
referring to a first buffer list having addresses of first buffers accessible only by said first port to retrieve addresses of unused first buffers;
referring to a second buffer list having addresses of second buffers accessible by every port in said port set to retrieve addresses of unused second buffers;
storing said data block in said unused first buffers, and in said second unused buffers after all of said unused first buffers have been used for storing; and
transmitting said data block at a second port of said gateway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting network frames via an internetworking device, in which a first portion of a total number of buffers is allocated among port-dedicated buffer pools, and a second portion is placed in a common pool accessible by any of the network ports. A frame is received at a first port, and a list of buffers accessible only by that port is referenced to identify buffers not already in use. A second list of buffers in the common pool is referenced to identify unused buffers for use if insufficient unused buffer space is available in the port-dedicated buffer pool. Frame data is then stored in the identified buffer(s). Upon retransmission, the buffer(s) used to store the. transmitted frame is released to the port-dedicated and/or common buffer pool(s).
138 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of receiving and transmitting a data block in a network gateway having a buffer set addressed by buffer lists, the buffer set associated with a port set, the method comprising:
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receiving said data block at a first port of said port set; referring to a first buffer list having addresses of first buffers accessible only by said first port to retrieve addresses of unused first buffers; referring to a second buffer list having addresses of second buffers accessible by every port in said port set to retrieve addresses of unused second buffers; storing said data block in said unused first buffers, and in said second unused buffers after all of said unused first buffers have been used for storing; and transmitting said data block at a second port of said gateway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification