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:
Apr. 22, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 22, 1999
Steven J. Schwartz, Sudbury, MA (US);
Eric J. Pelletier, Lexington, MA (US);
Eric J. Spada, Lexington, MA (US);
Jeffrey A. Koehler, Westborough, MA (US);
Pluris, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for queuing data such as data being transferred across or within a switching node on a network are described. The queuing apparatus includes a plurality of inputs for receiving data to be transferred to at least one output, each input being adapted to receive data at a data rate associated with the input. Each input transfers data to a relatively short queue which stores the data received at the input. Each output is associated with as many short queues as their inputs capable of transferring data to the output. A long queue associated with the output receives data from each of the short queues associated with the output and forwards the data to the output. A control circuit associated with the output transfers data stored in all of the short queues associated with the output into the long queue. This transfer takes place at a data rate that is higher than the data rate associated with the input such that the short queues are prevented from becoming full. By implementing the queuing system in many short queues instead of fewer long queues, the overall system is more efficient and inexpensive to implement.