Abstract: A logic system in a data packet processor is provided for selecting and releasing one of a plurality of contexts. The selected and released context is dedicated for enabling the processing of interrupt service routines corresponding to interrupts generated in data packet processing and pending for service. The system comprises, a first determination logic for determining control status of all of the contexts, a second determination logic for determining if a context is idle or not, a selection logic for selecting a context and a context release mechanism for releasing the selected context. Determination by the logic system that all contexts are singularly owned by an entity not responsible for packet processing and that at least one of the contexts is idle, triggers immediate selection and release of an idle one of the at least one idle contexts to an entity responsible for packet processing.

Abstract: A bypass system for a data cache has two ports to the data cache, registers for multiple data entries, a bus connection for accepting read and write operations to the cache, and address matching and switching logic. The system is characterized in that write operations that hit in the data cache are stored as elements in the bypass structure before the data is written to the data cache, and read operations use the address matching logic to search the elements of the bypass structure to identify and use any one or more of the entries representing data more recent than that stored in the data cache memory array, such that a subsequent write operation may free a memory port for a write stored in the bypass structure to be written to the data cache memory array. In a preferred embodiment there are six entries in the bypass system, and stalls are eliminated.

Abstract: In a data-packet processor, a configurable queueing system for packet accounting during processing has a plurality of queues arranged in one or more clusters, an identification mechanism for creating a packet identifier for arriving packets, insertion logic for inserting packet identifiers into queues and for determining into which queue to insert a packet identifier, and selection logic for selecting packet identifiers from queues to initiate processing of identified packets, downloading of completed packets, or for requeueing of the selected packet identifiers.