Dynamically configurable buffer for a computer network
US6151644A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/9047
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dynamically configurable network buffer includes a buffer manager organizing a buffer memory into a set of uniform sized packet buffers, each of which is large enough to store the largest possible data packet that may be transmitted through the network switch. The buffer manager further subdivides each packet buffer into a set of smaller packet cells of uniform size. When an incoming data packet arrives at the network buffer, the buffer manager determines its size. If the packet is too large to be stored in a single packet cell, the buffer manager stores the packet by itself in an unoccupied packet buffer. If the packet is small enough to be stored in a single packet cell, the buffer manager stores the packet in an unoccupied packet cell. The network buffer can increase or decrease packet cell size in response to input configuration data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.