Methods and apparatus for moving data elements within a data communications device
First Claim
1. In a data communications device having multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network, a method comprising the steps of:
- A. determining which of the multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network;
B. running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts; and
C. after step B, running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes a step of (A) determining which of multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to a network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network. The method further includes a step of (B) running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts. The method further includes a step of (C) after step B, running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a data communications device having multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network, a method comprising the steps of:
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A. determining which of the multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network; B. running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts; and C. after step B, running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. A data communications device, comprising:
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multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network; and a controller, coupled to the multiple network interfaces, which is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of; A. determining which of the multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network; B. running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts; and C. after step B, running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22)
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19. A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, such that the instructions, when processed by a data communications device having multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network, cause the data communications device to perform the steps of:
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A. determining which of the multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network; B. running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts; and C. after step B, running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element.
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20. A data communications device, comprising:
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multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network; and a controller, coupled to the multiple network interfaces, including; means for determining which of the multiple network interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the multiple network interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network; means for running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that network interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device, in response to giving higher priority to handling transmit interrupts relative to handling receive interrupts; and means for running, for at least one network interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element after running, for each network interface indicating readiness to transmit the data element to the network, the transmit interrupt handler.
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Specification