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:
Mar. 16, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2001
Kenneth H. Potter, Raleigh, NC (US);
Trevor Garner, Apex, NC (US);
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer system stores packet data and reduces the number of Read-Modify-Write (RMW) operations. An attribute is configured to specify a mode of operation that instructs the processor to perform a RMW operation, or to pad the packet data to over-write a memory line. A buffer defines the memory lines. Each memory line has a discrete number of bytes. The processor addresses the buffer with a memory address register. The attribute is a new bit in the memory address register. The attribute is configured to specify a mode of operation that instructs the processor to pad the packet data to be equal to one or more complete, full memory lines so that the padded packet data are stored only in complete, full memory lines, rather than to do an expensive RMW operation. The attribute may be a new bit added to the memory address register. A set value of the bit may indicate that a RMW operation is to be performed, and a clear value may indicate that padding of the packet data is to be done for the data to match the length of a memory line. When the data includes error correction code it is not necessary to perform a RMW, and the padding to fill a memory line is done.