The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 06, 1991
Bodo Pfeiffer, Schwieberdingen, DE;
Thomas Banniza, Hemmingen, DE;
Bozo Cesar, Stuttgart, DE;
Stefan Wahl, Hemmigen, DE;
Klaus-Dieter Menk, Hemmigen, DE;
Alcatel N. V., Amsterdam, NL;
Abstract
A buffer or other communications resource in, e.g., an ATM switch element receives random data which is then used by different data sinks. After the data has been outputted to the data sinks, the communications resource (e.g., the memory locations of the buffer) are released, i.e., labeled as free again. However, a resource which is not marked as free as a result of an error (whether erroneously the data is not retrieved or whether the release procedure is erroneous) remains blocked. To avoid permanent blockage of those memory locations whose contents have been in the buffer so long that they definitely (or at least very likely) should have been called for, information on the time of entry is stored together with the data. All memory locations are checked at regular intervals for the age of their contents. Upon attainment of a predetermined age, the location is labeled as free.