Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.

Nils Ramon Marchant

Philip David Cole

Mike Reynolds

James P Scott

Edward G Cavasian

Stephen John Lewis

A method and an apparatus are provided for inserting empty memory cells into a data flow of network connections of a computer network. In one example, the method includes receiving an insertion request for an empty memory cell to be inserted into the data flow. A base connection identification (CID) associated with the insertion request is also received. An appropriate insertion scheme for carrying out the insertion request is determined. Based on the appropriate insertion scheme, the insertion request is sent to an insertion device that is configured to insert the empty memory cell into the data flow. The memory cell is inserted prior to traffic shaping of the data flow.

Method and apparatus for inserting empty memory cells into a data flow of network connections of a computer network

A method and apparatus are provided for discarding a priority fair share of traffic of network connections. In one example, the method receives traffic of at least a particular network connection. A portion of a fixed buffer allocation space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the fixed buffer allocation space is associated with a fixed buffer allocation queue identification. A portion of a prioritized fair share buffer space is filled with traffic of the particular network connection, wherein a buffer in the prioritized fair share buffer space is associated with a priority fair share queue identification. A portion of the lowest priority traffic of the network connections is discarded.

Method and apparatus for discarding a prioritized fair share of traffic of network connections

A method and apparatus are provided for caching free cell pointers pointing to memory buffers configured to store data traffic of network connections. In one example, the method stores free cell pointers into a pointer random access memory (RAM). At least one free cell pointer is temporarily stored into internal cache configured to assist in lowering a frequency of reads from and writes to the pointer RAM. A request is received from an external integrated circuit for free cell pointers. Free cell pointers are sent to queues of the external integrated circuit, wherein each free cell pointer in a queue is configured to become a write cell pointer. At least one write cell pointer and a corresponding cell descriptor is received from the external integrated circuit. Free cell pointer counter values are then calculated in order to keep track of the free cell pointers.

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Nils Ramon Marchant