Abstract: A processor includes a scheduler operative to schedule data blocks for transmission from a plurality of queues or other transmission elements, utilizing at least a first table and a second table. The first table may comprise at least first and second first-in first-out (FIFO) lists of entries corresponding to transmission elements for which data blocks are to be scheduled in accordance with a first scheduling algorithm, such as a weighted fair queuing scheduling algorithm. The scheduler maintains a first table pointer identifying at least one of the first and second lists of the first table as having priority over the other of the first and second lists of the first table. The second table includes a plurality of entries corresponding to transmission elements for which data blocks are to be scheduled in accordance with a second scheduling algorithm, such as a constant bit rate or variable bit rate scheduling algorithm.

Abstract: In a communication system comprising a link layer device connectable to one or more physical layer devices, at least a given one of a plurality of ports of the one or more physical layer devices is designated as a port for which status information is to be requested by the link layer device on a more frequent basis than such information is to be requested for one or more other ports of the plurality of ports. The ports are then polled by the link layer device in accordance with a non-linear polling sequence such that the at least one designated port is polled more frequently than the one or more other ports. The designated port may comprise a port to which the link layer device transmits data in conjunction with a current data transfer. The non-linear polling sequence may thus be altered dynamically based on particular data transfers that are occurring between a link layer device and a physical layer device in a communication system.

Abstract: A processor includes controller circuitry operative to control performance monitoring for at least one flow of cells or other protocol data units received by the processor. The controller circuitry includes a classifier and is operative to access memory circuitry associated with the processor. The classifier is configured to perform at least a first pass classification of at least a subset of the protocol data units. The controller circuitry in conjunction with a first pass classification of a protocol data unit of a first type is operative to execute a first script, and in conjunction with a first pass classification of a protocol data unit of a second type is operative to execute a second script different than the first script. A result of execution of at least one of the first and second scripts is stored in the memory circuitry.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for flexible allocation of address pins of an interface bus to particular sub-buses of the interface bus. The interface bus is between at least one physical layer device and a link layer device in a communication system. Each of the sub-buses has an interface block of the link layer device associated therewith, the interface bus being configurable to carry a composite address signal having a plurality of portions each associated with one of the address pins of the interface bus. The interface blocks of the link layer device are controlled such that each of at least a subset of the interface blocks utilizes only particular ones of the address pins that are controllably allocated to the associated sub-bus in accordance with configuration information stored in the link layer device. The composite address signal is generated as a combination of address outputs of the interface blocks.

Abstract: A bus bridge mechanism is provided with an automatic delayed transaction enable mode. When the automatic delayed transaction enable mode is activated, a bus master making a read request is immediately signaled to retry the transaction, and the read request is treated by the bus bridge as a delayed read request to be completed asynchronously. The delayed read request, when completed, supplies data to the bus master on the next retry of the read request by the bus master following the completion of the delayed read request.

Abstract: A processor-based system such as a microcontroller supports a non-concurrent mode in which a bus master requesting ownership of a peripheral bus is forced to acquire ownership of both the peripheral bus and a processor bus. The system includes a peripheral bus arbiter to detect a peripheral bus request for the peripheral bus by a bus master, to generate a processor bus request for the processor bus in response to detecting the peripheral bus request, and to grant the bus master ownership of the peripheral bus if the bus master is granted ownership of the processor bus. The peripheral bus arbiter maintains ownership of the processor bus by the bus master until the bus master releases ownership of the peripheral bus. Similarly, a bus master seeking ownership of the processor bus can be forced to acquire ownership of the peripheral bus. The non-concurrent mode can be applied to various multi-bus architectures. One advantage of the non-concurrent mode is improved debug capability.