Abstract: A system includes a data structure having a Direct Table (DT), Patricia-Trees, Pointers and high speed storage systems such as Contents Address Memory (CAM). The DT has a plurality of entries with each one coupled to a Patricia Tree having multiple nodes coupled to leaves. The number of Nodes, termed a threshold, that can be traversed to obtain information in the leaves is limited to a predetermined value. Once the threshold is reached a pointer indicates the address of the CAM and the address of the leaves is stored in the CAM. By using the structure and method the latency associated with tree search is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for combining at least two data signals having an input data rate into a single data stream having an output data rate being higher than the input data rate for transmission on a shared medium or vice versa, particularly, to a single SDH/SONET framer capable of handling a large range of SDH/SONET frames from STM-i to STM-j with an aggregated total capacity corresponding to an STM-j frame where i and j are integers in the range from 1 to 64 or higher according to the STM-N definition of the SDH/SONET standards. More over, the present invention can also be extended to work with STS-1 as lowest range. STS-1 exists in SONET only not SDH and corresponds to a data rate of 51.5 Mb/s a third of the 156 Mb/s of STM-1.

Abstract: A data aligner in a reconfigurable computing environment is disclosed. Embodiments employ hardware macros in field configurable gate arrays (FPGAs) to minimize the number of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) needed to shift bytes of data. The alignment mechanism allows flexibility, scalability, configurability, and reduced costs as compared to application specific integrated circuits.

Abstract: A mechanism controls a multi-thread processor so that when a first thread encounters a latency event for a first predefined time interval temporary control is transferred to an alternate execution thread for duration of the first predefined time interval and then back to the original thread. The mechanism grants full control to the alternate execution thread when a latency event for a second predefined time interval is encountered. The first predefined time interval is termed short latency event whereas the second time interval is termed long latency event.

Abstract: Novel data structures, methods and apparatus for finding the longest prefix match search when searching tables with variable length patterns or prefixes. To find the exact match or the best matching prefix, patterns have to be compared a bit at a time until the exact or first match is found. This requires “n” number of comparisons or memory accesses to identify the closest matching pattern. The trees are built in such a way that the matching result is guaranteed to be a best match, whether it is an exact match or a longest prefix match. Using the trail of all the birds and associated prefix lengths enables determination of the correct prefix result from the trail. By construction, the search tree provides the best matching prefix at or after the first compare during walking of the trail or tree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning work, such as data packets, from a plurality of sources, such as data queues in a network processing device, to a plurality of sinks, such as processor threads in the network processing device. In a given processing period, sinks that are available to receive work are identified and sources qualified to send work to the available sinks are determined taking into account any assignment constraints. A single source is selected from an overlap of the qualified sources and sources having work available. This selection may be made using a hierarchical source scheduler for processing subsets of supported sources simultaneously in parallel. A sink to which work from the selected source may be assigned is selected from available sinks qualified to receive work from the selected source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing thread instructions in the pipeline of a multi-threading digital processor are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and software are disclosed for successively selecting threads in an ordered sequence for execution in the processor pipeline. If a thread to be selected cannot execute, then a complementary thread is selected for execution.

Abstract: A data aligner in a reconfigurable computing environment is disclosed. Embodiments employ hardware macros in field configurable gate arrays (FPGAs) to minimize the number of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) needed to shift bytes of data. The alignment mechanism allows flexibility, scalability, configurability, and reduced costs as compared to application specific integrated circuits.

Abstract: A method and structure for determining when a frame of information comprised of one or more buffers of data being transmitted in a network processor has completed transmission is provided. The network processor includes several control blocks, one for each data buffer, each containing control information linking one buffer to another. Each control block has a last bit feature which is a single bit settable to “one” or “zero” and indicates when the data buffer having the last bit is transmitted. The last bit is in a first position when an additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer indicating an additional data buffer is to be transmitted and a second position when no additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer. The position of the last bit is communicated to the network processor indicating the ending of a particular frame.

Abstract: A method for receiving packets in a computer network are disclosed. The method include providing at least one receive port, a buffer, a scheduler, and a wrap port. The buffer has an input coupled with the at least one receive port and an output. The scheduler has a first input coupled to the output of the buffer, a second input coupled to the wrap port, and an output.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for an adapter to be utilized in a server environment that can accommodate both a 10 G and a 1 G source utilizing the same pins. This is accomplished through the use of a high speed serializer/deserializer (high speed serdes) which can accommodate both data sources. The high speed serdes allows for the use of a relatively low reference clock speed on the NIC to provide the proper clocking of the data sources and also allows for different modes to be set to accommodate the different data sources. Finally the system allows for the adapter to use the same pins for multiple data sources.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for an adapter to be utilized in a server environment that can accommodate both a 10 G and a 1 G source utilizing the same pins. This is accomplished through the use of a high speed serializer/deserializer (high speed serdes) which can accommodate both data sources. The high speed serdes allows for the use of a relatively low reference clock speed on the NIC to provide the proper clocking of the data sources and also allows for different modes to be set to accommodate the different data sources. Finally the system allows for the adapter to use the same pins for multiple data sources.

Abstract: A system and method for parsing, filtering, and computing the checksum in a host Ethernet adapter (HEA) that is coupled to a host. The method includes receiving a part of a frame, wherein a plurality of parts of a frame constitute a entire frame. Next, parse the part of a frame before receiving the entire frame. The HEA computes a checksum of the part of a frame. The HEA filters the part of a frame based on a logical, port-specific policy and transmits the checksum to the host.

Abstract: Providing communications between operating system partitions and a computer network. In one aspect, an apparatus for distributing network communications among multiple operating system partitions includes a physical port allowing communications between the network and the computer system, and logical ports associated with the physical port, where each logical port is associated with one of the operating system partitions. Each of the logical ports enables communication between a physical port and the associated operating system partition and allows configurability of network resources of the system. Other aspects include a logical switch for logical and physical ports, and packet queues for each connection and for each logical port.

Abstract: A method and structure for determining when a frame of information comprised of one or more buffers of data being transmitted in a network processor has completed transmission is provided. The network processor includes several control blocks, one for each data buffer, each containing control information linking one buffer to another. Each control block has a last bit feature which is a single bit settable to “one or “zero” and indicates the transmission of when the data buffer having the last bit. The last bit is in a first position when an additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer indicating an additional data buffer is to be transmitted and a second position when no additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer. The position of the last bit is communicated to the network processor indicating the ending of a particular frame.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transporting control information in a communications system. The apparatus comprises a network processor, a control point processor operatively coupled to the network processor, and a guided frame generated by the control point processor. The guided frame comprises a first section in which frame control information is placed and is used by the network processor to update at least one control register within the network processor; a second section carrying correlators assigned by the control point processor to correlate guided frame responses with their requests; a third section carrying one or a sequence of guided commands; and an End delimiter guided command.

Abstract: A system and method for computing a blind checksum includes a host Ethernet adapter (HEA) with a system for receiving a packet. The system determines whether or not the packet is in Internet protocol version four (IPv4). If the packet is not in IPv4, the system computes the checksum of the packet. If the packet is in IPv4, the system determines whether the packet is in transmission control protocol (TCP) or user datagram protocol (UDP). If the packet is not in either of TCP or UDP the system attaches a pseudo-header to the packet and computes the checksum of the packet based on the pseudo-header and the IPv4 standard.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing multi-frame control blocks in a network processor are disclosed. Embodiments include systems and methods to reduce long latency memory access to less expensive memory such as DRAM. As a network processor in a network receives packets of data, the network processor forms a frame control block for each packet. The frame control block contains a pointer to a memory location where the packet data is stored, and is thereby associated with the packet. The network processor associates a plurality of frame control blocks together in a table control block that is stored in a control store. Each table control block comprises a pointer to a memory location of a next table control block in a chain of table control blocks. Because frame control blocks are stored and accessed in table control blocks, less frequent memory accesses may be needed to keep up with the frame rate of packet transmission.

Abstract: A control sub system, a plurality of interface processors, a plurality of media interfaces a plurality of queues are operatively coupled and responsive to a control signal to move data from a memory to a selected one of the plurality of queues.

Abstract: An Ethernet adapter is disclosed. The Ethernet adapter comprises a plurality of layers for allowing the adapter to receive and transmit packets from and to a processor. The plurality of layers include a demultiplexing mechanism to allow for partitioning of the processor. A Host Ethernet Adapter (HEA) is an integrated Ethernet adapter providing a new approach to Ethernet and TCP acceleration. A set of TCP/IP acceleration features have been introduced in a toolkit approach: Servers TCP/IP stacks use these accelerators when and as required. The interface between the server and the network interface controller has been streamlined by bypassing the PCI bus. The HEA supports network virtualization. The HEA can be shared by multiple OSs providing the essential isolation and protection without affecting its performance.