Other

Null Networks LLC

Network Elements, Inc.

Donald R Primrose

I Claude Denton

A buffering structure including at least a first FIFO storage structure to stage at least a selected one of undiverted egress packets and undiverted ingress packets is provided. The buffering structure further includes at least first associated packet drop logic to selectively effectuate head or tail flushes of the first FIFO storage structure. In various embodiments, one or more additional FIFO storage structures are also provided to stage one or more diverted and/or insertion of egress/ingress packets. Those use for staging diverted egress/ingress packets are likewise provided with associated packet drop logic to perform tail flushes of these additional FIFO structures. In one application, the buffering structure is employed by a multi-protocol network processor, which in turn is employed by an optical networking module.

Data link/physical layer packet buffering and flushing

A host control interface for use in interfacing an external host processor with internal control/status registers of an integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the control interface selectively couples the integrated circuit with an interchangeable one of a variety of host processor types. In one embodiment, the control interface supports processors having a multiplexed address/data port as well as processors having separate address and data ports. Similarly, in one embodiment, the control interface supports processors utilizing a transfer start indication signal in cooperation with a read/write signal, as well as processors utilizing separate read/write strobes.

Configurable glueless microprocessor interface

A buffering structure including a number of storage structures and associated diversion and/or insertion logic, is provided to facilitate one or more selected ones of post-switching, pre-medium placement, diversion and/or insertion of egress packets, and post-medium extraction, pre-switching, diversion and/or insertion of ingress packets, during data link/physical layer processing of networking traffic. In selected applications, the buffering structure is provided as an integral part of a single ASIC multi-protocol networking processor having data link/physical layer processing components for a number of datacom and telecom protocols. In one of the selected applications, the single ASIC multi-protocol networking processor is employed in conjunction with other optical and electro components to form an integral optical networking module in support of optical-electro networking for the datacom/telecom protocols.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Donald R Primrose