Abstract: A communication adapter transfers synchronous or multimedia and asynchronous or packet data between a network which may be of a FDDI type and a host system in real time. The adapter can manage data transfer in both directions between the system and the network and automatically switches between multimedia and packet data while holding the token. The adapter includes a queue manager having a synchronous threshold register and counter and a packet data threshold register and counter. The queue manager is coupled among a host bus; a storage means; a FDDI network; and bandwidth control logic. The queue manager in conjunction with the bandwidth control logic can dynamically switch the adapter from transmitting packet or synchronous data to the FDDI without exceeding bandwidth. The queue manager is also adapted to initiate capture of the token on a FDDI and commence transmission of synchronous or packet data frames to the ring as early as possible.

Abstract: A queue manager manages multiple interfaces among a network, a host bus and a storage means including multiple circular FIFO's in a data communication system handling packet and multimedia data transferred, in either direction, between the host bus and the network. The queue manager includes a programmable parameter RAM interface, computation logic and status means. An efficient queue management algorithm dynamically manages storage of data in the circular multiple FIFO's as data is transferred, in either direction, between the host bus and the network. System bandwidth is allocated by the queue manager to the queues which have the most activity thereby improving the speed of transferring data while reducing the amount of bandwidth that would otherwise be required by prior systems. The programmable interface permits a user to define and dynamically configure the multiple circular FIFO storage means to include other parameters useful in the management of data transferred between the host bus and the network.