Apparatus and method for time aware transfer of frames in a medium access control module
First Claim
1. A medium access control module comprising:
- a plurality of queues;
a plurality of gate modules;
whereinthe plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules are to receive a plurality of frames and a plurality of timestamps from a memory,prior to or subsequent to the plurality of frames being received at the plurality of gate modules, the plurality of queues are to store the plurality of frames received from the memory,ownership of the plurality of frames is masked based on the plurality of timestamps, which delays reception of the plurality of frames by the plurality of queues, andthe plurality of gate modules are to (i) compare the plurality of timestamps to a local time, and (ii) permit transfer of the plurality of frames based on the comparisons, wherein each of the plurality of gate modules is to (i) permit transfer of one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time matching or being later than a corresponding one of the timestamps, and (ii) not permit transfer of the one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time being earlier than the corresponding one of the timestamps;
a plurality of shaping modules to (i) receive the plurality of frames from the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules, and (ii) spread data in the plurality of frames over time to generate output signals; and
a selector module to select one of the output signals to forward to a physical layer device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medium access control module including queues and gate, shaping and selector modules. The queues or the gate modules receive frames and timestamps from a memory. Ownership of the frames is masked based on the timestamps, which delays reception of the frames by the queues. The queues store the frames received from the memory. The gate modules compare the timestamps to a local time and permit transfer of the frames based on the comparisons. Each of the gate modules permits transfer of one of the frames in response to the local time matching or being later than a corresponding one of the timestamps. The shaping modules receive the frames from the queues or the gate modules and spread data in the frames over time to generate output signals. The selector module selects one of the output signals to forward to a physical layer device.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medium access control module comprising:
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a plurality of queues; a plurality of gate modules; wherein the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules are to receive a plurality of frames and a plurality of timestamps from a memory, prior to or subsequent to the plurality of frames being received at the plurality of gate modules, the plurality of queues are to store the plurality of frames received from the memory, ownership of the plurality of frames is masked based on the plurality of timestamps, which delays reception of the plurality of frames by the plurality of queues, and the plurality of gate modules are to (i) compare the plurality of timestamps to a local time, and (ii) permit transfer of the plurality of frames based on the comparisons, wherein each of the plurality of gate modules is to (i) permit transfer of one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time matching or being later than a corresponding one of the timestamps, and (ii) not permit transfer of the one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time being earlier than the corresponding one of the timestamps; a plurality of shaping modules to (i) receive the plurality of frames from the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules, and (ii) spread data in the plurality of frames over time to generate output signals; and a selector module to select one of the output signals to forward to a physical layer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a medium access control module, wherein the medium access control module comprises a plurality of queues, a plurality of gate modules and a plurality of shaping modules, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of frames and a plurality of timestamps from a memory at the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules; prior to or subsequent to the plurality of frames being received at the plurality of gate modules, storing the plurality of frames received from the memory in the plurality of queues; masking ownership of the plurality of frames based on the plurality of timestamps to delay reception of the plurality of frames by the plurality of queues; comparing the plurality of timestamps to a local time via the plurality of gate modules; permitting transfer of the plurality of frames based on the comparisons including, at each of the plurality of gate modules, permitting transfer of one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time matching or being later than a corresponding one of the timestamps, and (ii) not permitting transfer of the one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time being earlier than the corresponding one of the timestamps; receiving at the plurality of shaping modules the plurality of frames from the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules; spreading data in the plurality of frames over time to generate output signals; selecting one of the output signals; and forwarding the selected one of the output signals to a physical layer device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification