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:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1998
Tadhg Creedon, County Galway, IE;
Paul J Moran, Hemel Hempstead, GB;
Graeme J McKerrel, Hemel Hempstead, GB;
3Com Technologies, Georgetown, KY (US);
Abstract
A network device for use in a data communication network comprises: a multiplicity of ports capable of receiving input data; a common buffer memory for storing in respective buffers data received by the input ports; and processing system for controlling the writing of data into buffers and the reading of data from said buffers. The processing system determines whether the extent of occupation of the common buffer memory exceeds a threshold defined to represent congestion of the memory. Counter system enabled by the processing system on detection of the aforementioned threshold count units of input data through the respective ports, the processing system decrementing these counters as data is read out from the common buffer memory.