Abstract: Data is transferred on a first port during a current cycle until a predetermined number of bytes less an overshoot value for the first port has been transferred on the first port. The transfer of data continues on the first port during the current cycle until a complete packet has been transferred on the first port. An overshoot value for the first port is updated based on the number of bytes transferred on the first port. In one embodiment, a pair of ports are sequentially selected from a plurality of pairs of ports. The pair of ports comprises a port connected to a first interface and a port connected to a second interface. Data is transferred on the port connected to the first interface during a current cycle. Data is transferred on the port connected to the second interface during the current cycle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a logic coupled to receive a number of data packets. The logic comprises an execution unit to generate a request for routing data for a data packet of the number of data packets. The logic also includes a memory lookup engine coupled to the execution unit and a local memory. The local memory is to store routing data for the number of data packets. The memory lookup engine is to receive the request and to update the local memory upon determining that the routing data for the data packet is not found in the local memory. Additionally, the logic includes a communication logic coupled to the memory lookup engine. The communication logic is to transmit an update message to a remote logic. The update message is to cause the remote logic to update a remote memory, wherein the update message is transmitted based on a low priority update upon determining that a buffer for update messages of the remote memory is full when the local memory is updated.

Abstract: These and other aspects of the present invention will be better described with reference to the Detailed Description and the accompanying figures. A method and apparatus for out-of-order processing of packets using linked lists is described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving packets in a global order, the packets being designated for different ones of a plurality of reorder contexts. The method also includes storing information regarding each of the packets in a shared reorder buffer. The method also includes for each of the plurality of reorder contexts, maintaining a reorder context linked list that records the order in which those of the packets that were designated for that reorder context and that are currently stored in the shared reorder buffer were received relative to the global order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for out-of-order processing of packets are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving packets in a global order, the packets being designated for different ones of a plurality of reorder contexts. The method also includes, for each of the plurality of reorder contexts, assigning reorder context sequence numbers indicating an order relative to the global order of the packets designated for that reorder context. The method also includes storing packet descriptors for each of the packets in a shared reorder buffer, and completing processing of at least certain of the packets out of the global order. The method also includes, for each of the plurality of reorder contexts, maintaining a first indication of the one of the sequence numbers assigned the one of the packets that is next to be retired for that reorder context.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises outputting data from a queue of a number of queues of an egress port. The queue has a portion of an allocated bandwidth for the egress port for a processing cycle, wherein the number of queues are associated with nodes of a port tree. The method also includes redistributing surplus of the portion of bandwidth for the queue that is not used to at least one other queue. The surplus is added to a portion of the allocated bandwidth for the at least one other queue for the processing cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing channelized and unchannelized data within a signal are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving in a network element, data packets within a number of channels, wherein each of the number of channels are channelized or unchannelized, processing, in a protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are channelized, and processing, in the protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are unchannelized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiple communications sessions is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises establishing a session at a data link layer between a host and a remote access concentrator, determining a set of network layer information corresponding to the session, and applying the set of network layer information to the host at the data link layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiplexing and demultiplexing communication signals are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes first sample logic to sample a plurality of communication signals each including a clock component and a non-clock component. The first sample logic includes a first multiplexer to receive the clock components and a second multiplexer to receive the non-clock components. In addition, a first counter is coupled to a control input of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer. A capture unit including a non-clock component storage element coupled to an output of the second multiplexer and edge detection logic is coupled to an output of the first multiplexer to detect a transition of a clock component and coupled to a control input of the non-clock component storage element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request to modify a subscriber connection to a network element. The method also includes modifying attributes of the subscriber connection, within a memory of the network element, without disconnecting the subscriber connection from the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multicast multiple prefetch is described. A method in a network element comprises queuing a set of one or more prefetch requests, wherein a subset of the set of prefetch requests corresponds to a multicast packet, issuing a first of the subset of prefetch requests, and blocking each of the subsequent ones of the subset of prefetch requests.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises recursively selecting a child node of a previously selected node of a port tree and having a highest priority among nodes of a same level within the port tree, until the selected node has associated egress queues of an egress port. The method also includes outputting a number of packets from the associated egress queues of the selected node in a current processing cycle. The number of packets outputted is based on an allocated bandwidth for the associated egress queues, in which the allocated bandwidth accounts for a deficit from a previous processing cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic binding of network services is described. A network device comprises at least one processor, memory, I/O, and at least one virtual network machine in the memory, said at least one virtual network machine including a first network interface, a first sub-interface data structure in the memory, and a first binding data structure in the memory which binds the first network interface to the first sub-interface data structure.

Abstract: A computer implemented method in which Internet Protocol (IP) packets are routed within a first Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) domain from a single network device with a first database. The first database includes addresses of the first ISP. IP packets are also routed within a second ISP's domain from the single network device with a second database. The second database, which is separate from the first database, includes addresses of the second ISP.

Abstract: An on-chip RAM FIFO (first-in-first-out) buffer for storing SPE overhead bytes wherein each entry of the RAM FIFO stores (1) a byte of the SPE overhead; (2) an indication of which byte of the SPE overhead is currently stored in that entry; and (3) an indication of which STS signal that byte was taken from.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the incorporation of any size and location of concatenated SONET frames, which carry packet data, in an SONET signal are described. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving packet data. Additionally, the method includes concatenating the packet data into a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) signal. The concatenation can be across any locations within the TDM SONET signal, and a size of the concatenation can be in increments of single SONET frames. The method also includes transmitting the TDM SONET signal having the concatenated packet data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for PPPoE multicast is described. A computer implemented method comprises determining a PPPoE client to be multicast capable, determining a layer 2 multicast channel from a layer 3 multicast channel, and transmitting multicast traffic for the layer 2 multicast channel as PPPoE multicast traffic in a PPPoE multicast session to the PPPoE client.

Abstract: A scheduler configured to schedule multiple channels of a Direct Memory Access (DMA) device includes a shift structure having entries corresponding to the multiple channels to be scheduled. Each entry in the shift structure includes multiple fields. Each entry also includes a weight that is determined based on these multiple fields. The scheduler also includes a comparison-logic circuit that is configured to then sort the entries based on their respective weights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling repeated switching of a cross-connect and a timing source in a network element through the use of a phase adjuster. In one embodiment, a traffic card includes an aligner to adjust the occupancy of the data in two ingress FIFOs to synchronize their occupancy. In addition, the traffic card includes a clock control logic, including a phase adjuster, to adjust the phase of clock signals driving the two ingress FIFOs to avoid an underflow or overflow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing management information base data is described. A method in a network element comprises collecting a first set of management information base (MIB) data in a framer's memory, maintaining a second set of MIB data that is periodically updated with the first set of MIB data, wherein the second set of MIB data is maintained separately from the first set of MIB data; and, in response to a request for the MIB data, transmitting the second set of MIB data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable rate pipes is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises allocating a pipe from part of a working channel and at least part of a protecting channel of a span of a bi-directional line switched ring (BLSR), the pipe having a bandwidth, transmitting a set of layer 2/3 traffic in the pipe, and reducing the pipe's bandwidth when a failure occurs in the ring.