System and method for dropping lower priority packets that are slated for transmission
First Claim
1. A method for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- receiving one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority;
based on said priority, storing each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of said priority queues;
monitoring the number of packets in each of said priority queues and signaling an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in said one or more priority queues; and
dropping lower priority packets in said fixed shared memory space based on said order received.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a communication medium is provided. A cable modem termination system receives one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority. Then, based on the priority, a media access controller stores each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of the priority queues. The media access controller monitors the number of packets in each of the priority queues and signals an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in one or more of the priority queues. The media access controller then drops lower priority packets in the fixed shared memory space based on the order received to guarantee that there is enough memory to store higher priority packets in the fixed shared memory space.
45 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority;
based on said priority, storing each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of said priority queues;
monitoring the number of packets in each of said priority queues and signaling an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in said one or more priority queues; and
dropping lower priority packets in said fixed shared memory space based on said order received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for dropping lower priority packets for transmission over a communication medium, comprising:
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a cable modem termination system for receiving one or more packets to be transferred to one or more data providers, each packet having a priority;
based on said priority, a media access controller for storing each of the packets in one or more priority queues in a fixed shared memory space in such a way as to maintain the order in which the packets were received in each of said priority queues;
wherein said media access controller monitors the number of packets in each of said priority queues and signals an interrupt when a packet threshold is exceeded in said one or more priority queues; and
wherein said media access controller drops lower priority packets in said fixed shared memory space based on said order received. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification