Hewlett-Packard Company

Brian Michael Dowling

James G Wendt

Christian J Warling

James David Rodeo

A fly-by checksum is generated at a lower layer of the protocol stack and travels up to a high layer of a protocol stack to verify incoming data. In one embodiment, a network adapter comprises includes one or more protocol stacks and a LAN controller that includes a fly-by checksum generation unit. A checksum algorithm is registered with the fly-by checksum generation unit for each protocol layer that is to receive a fly-by checksum. As an incoming packet is transferred from network media to network adapter memory, the fly-by checksum generation unit calculates a fly-by checksum for each checksum algorithm that has been registered. After the fly-by checksums are complete, they are transmitted to the network adapter memory and are transmitted up the appropriate protocol stack within a checksum channel. When data reaches a layer of the protocol stack for which the fly-by checksum was generated, the fly-by checksum is removed from the checksum channel and is used to verify the integrity of the data.

Hardware checksum assist for network protocol stacks

A tool is provided that automates and expedites the ASIC design review process by allowing designers to perform a comprehensive asynchronous path design review of the circuit design HDL code. The tool operates on either an entire hierarchy or any sub-block of the circuit design. Filters are provided to allow the user to disregard known and desired synchronization circuits from the output generated by the tool. The tool provides an output that can take either of two formats, i.e. the output may be presented in a tabular form by hierarchical signal name, or it may be presented in a graphical, schematic block diagram form. In operation, the tool performs an exhaustive search of all circuits and identifies any asynchronous behavior. A user interface is provided that requires two data inputs and provides for an additional optional field. The two mandatory fields identify the location of all design files and the module at which the tool should begin its analysis. The tool begins its analysis at the level of the module input and traverses the circuit design from that point down the hierarchy to all end modules. Additional options and inputs govern the type and format of output information generated.

Growing community of inventors

El Dorado Hills, CA, United States of America

Brian Michael Dowling