Abstract: A network device has a communications port to provide communication with a data network and a cable port to provide communication with a cable network across multiple channels. The network device also has a processor to receive data from the data network, format the data into packets for transmission across the multiple channels and provide an identifier to allow the packets to be reconstructed.

Abstract: A hybrid cable modem includes wideband circuitry configured to receive data over multiple different downstream channels at the same time. The wideband circuitry demodulates signals on the different downstream channels and then formats the demodulated signals back into packets or frames for sending out over an Internet Protocol (IP) home network. Narrowband cable modem circuitry is coupled to the wideband circuitry and selectively extracts Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) data from one of the multiple downstream channels being processed by the wideband circuitry.

Abstract: Typically, queues in a router device are used to track data information such as packets or data flows for later transmission to another downstream communication device. To reduce overhead associated with tracking an average queue length of a queue, a metric reflecting average queue length (or estimated queue length) is updated based on the occurrence of an event such as when the contents of the queue are modified. More specifically, if data is added or deleted from the queue, the metric reflecting an average fullness of the queue over time is updated at substantially the same time as updating the instantaneous queue length metric associated with the queue. This technique of synchronously updating both IQL and AQL simplifies the overall task of maintaining queue length information.

Abstract: A computerized device has dynamically modifiable hardware, such as an ASIC, that performs queue-scheduling operations. The hardware incorporates a generic sorting processor (GSP) that is dynamically configurable to implement various sorting algorithms to meet specific queue scheduling requirements for the computerized device. The computerized device extracts a first time stamp value and a second time stamp value associated with a first queue and a second queue, respectively. The computerized device receives instructions to configure a table of the GSP with scheduling entries. The computerized device compares the first time stamp value with the second time stamp value to form a comparison result. The computerized device then selects a decision instruction from the table, based upon the comparison result, and identifies a preferred queue of the first queue and the second queue, based upon the decision instruction.

Abstract: A hybrid cable modem includes wideband circuitry configured to receive data over multiple different downstream channels at the same time. The wideband circuitry demodulates signals on the different downstream channels and then formats the demodulated signals back into packets or frames for sending out over an Internet Protocol (IP) home network. Narrowband cable modem circuitry is coupled to the wideband circuitry and selectively extracts Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) data from one of the multiple downstream channels being processed by the wideband circuitry.

Abstract: A network device has a communications port to provide communication with a data network and a cable port to provide communication with a cable network across multiple channels. The network device also has a processor to receive data from the data network, format the data into packets for transmission across the multiple channels and provide an identifier to allow the packets to be reconstructed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing processor interrupt processing time in a data processing system. The data processing system includes a system processor, a system memory and an adapter coupled to the system processor and the system memory. The adapter checks for an interrupt condition. Responsive to identifying an interrupt condition, the adapter transfers predetermined interrupt status information to the system memory. Then the adapter raises an interrupt to the system processor. The adapter uses a direct memory access (DMA) descriptor or a source address and a destination address to move the predetermined interrupt status information to the system memory.

Abstract: A method and system within a data processing system are disclosed for receiving information from a communications network. The data processing system includes a communications adapter, having an adapter memory, and a host memory. The communications adapter is coupled to the communications network, which transmits information to the data processing system in packets including a packet header and packet data. According to the present invention, a portion of a packet of information is received from the communications network at the adapter memory within the communications adapter. The portion of the packet of information includes at least a packet header that specifies a length of the packet of information and a destination address within the host memory. In response to receipt of the portion of the packet of information, a transfer of the packet of information from the adapter memory to the host memory is prepared prior to receipt of a final portion of the packet of information at the adapter memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing an inline data service within a data processing system coupled to a communications network. The data processing system includes a host memory. According to the present invention, the apparatus comprises an adapter memory for temporarily storing data communicated between the data processing system and the communications network and a memory access controller, which controls transfers of data between the adapter memory and the host memory. The apparatus further includes means for selectively performing a data transformation on data transferred between the adapter memory and the host memory, wherein the data transformation is performed during a transfer of the data such that data communication latency is reduced. In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multibus data processing system has a processor and a first memory coupled to a first bus and a second memory coupled to a second bus.

Abstract: The method and system for enhanced efficiency in a multisession communication system which utilizes a series of data packets wherein each data packet includes an indication of the identity of a particular session to which that data packet belongs. Each received data packet is examined as that data packet is received to determine a session identity for that packet. An indication of the session identity is thereafter listed within a session queue only in response to an initial occurrence of that session identity. Each data packet for a listed session identity is then stored in a data packet queue in First-In First-Out (FIFO) order which is associated with the listed session identity wherein all packets for a session remain in order, even though the overall order of all packets may be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus processing system for enhancing the processing of a plurality of related packets received at a logical unit within a data processing system. A plurality of packets are received at the logical unit. Then each of the plurality of packets are examined and a session identification is obtained for each of the plurality of packets. During a preselected time window, each of the plurality of packets are associated with a group. Each packet in a group has a session identification that is identical to every other packet within the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing virtual memory having multiple selected page sizes are provided. A virtual address includes a map index and a frame offset. A selector mechanism receives the virtual address frame offset and generates an offset and index. A frame map table indexes the virtual address map index and the selector generated index and generates a base address. The frame map table generated base address and the selector generated offset are combined to provide a physical address.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a stream of multimedia digital data over a distribution communications network. A multimedia stream server segments the multimedia digital data stream into data blocks on a first boundary and a second boundary. The first boundary is a set number of transport system data packets and the second boundary is a transport system data packet including a timestamp. A scheduler schedules the segmented data blocks for transmission. The multimedia stream server decodes the segmented data blocks to locate the timestamps and matches the transmission of the located timestamp data block with a time value indicated by the timestamp. The set number of transport system data packets can be determined at connection setup and is not a predetermined value for all sessions. At the receiver, batch processing of received multimedia data can be provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a stream of multimedia digital data over a distribution communications network. A multimedia stream server segments the multimedia digital data stream into data blocks on a first boundary and a second boundary. The first boundary is a set number of transport system data packets and the second boundary is a transport system data packet including a timestamp. A scheduler schedules the segmented data blocks for transmission. The multimedia stream server decodes the segmented data blocks to locate the timestamps and matches the transmission of the located timestamp data block with a time value indicated by the timestamp. The set number of transport system data packets can be determined at connection setup and is not a predetermined value for all sessions. At the receiver, batch processing of received multimedia data can be provided.