Spatial dispersion buffer

Abstract

An improved buffer for networking and other computing devices comprises multiple memory instances, each having a distinct set of entries. Transport data units ('TDUs') are divided into storage data units (“SDUs”), and each SDU is stored within a separate entry of a separate memory instance in a logical bank. One or more grids of the memory instances are organized into overlapping logical banks. The logical banks are arranged into views. Different destinations or other entities are assigned different views of the buffer. A memory instance may be shared between logical banks in different views. When overlapping logical banks are accessed concurrently, data in a memory instance that they share may be recovered using a parity SDU in another memory instance. The shared buffering enables more efficient buffer usage in a network device with a traffic manager shared amongst egress bocks. Example read and write algorithms for such buffers are disclosed.