Abstract: The present invention relates to a data buffer memory (104) and method for storing data in a data communications network, and to a data buffer system (100) comprising such a data buffer memory. The data buffer memory comprising a data section (104a?) comprising a number of memory pages (104a); and a package descriptor section (104b?) comprising a 5 number of package descriptors (104b); wherein at least one queue (103) of packets is stored in the data section (104a?) as an ordered set of packages, and wherein a package is an ordered set of packets.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for communicating queue information. The method includes determining a queue state for each one of a plurality of queues at least partially based on respective queue length, selecting a queue with a greatest difference between the queue state of the queue and a last reported queue state of the queue, and reporting the queue state of the selected queue to at least one node.

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit for processing of packets in a network, the network processor comprising: communication interface configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch configured to switch packets between the communication interface and the processing means; and wherein the embedded switch is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means, and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit for processing of packets in a network, the network processor comprising: communication interface configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch configured to switch packets between the communication interface and the processing means; and wherein the embedded switch is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means, and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor and a method for processing a data packet, the method including steps of decreasing a value of a first credit parameter when the data packet is admitted to a processor at least partly based on the value of the first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and increasing the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a data storage level in a buffer in which the data packet is stored before being admitted to the processor, the value of the first credit parameter not being increased, so as to become larger than a second limit of the first credit parameter, when the buffer is empty.

Abstract: A packet processor implemented in hardware. The packet processor includes a processing pipeline including a plurality of processing elements. The plurality of processing elements are configured to process a first data packet transferred sequentially through the plurality of processing elements. The first data packet includes information indicating a period of time that at least a first processing element of the plurality of processing elements uses to process the first data packet. The first processing element is prevented from processing other data packets due to performing processing on the first data packet during the period of time. A packet rate shaper is configured to, prior to the first data packet entering the processing pipeline, read the information in the first data packet, selectively increment and decrement a token value, and selectively grant the first data packet access to the processing pipeline based on the information and based on the token value.

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit for processing of packets in a network, the network processor comprising: communication interface configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch configured to switch packets between the communication interface and the processing means; and wherein the embedded switch is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means, and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a traffic manager (1) and a method for a traffic manager (1), the method comprising the step of reading a first data packet (D1-DD) comprised in a first queue (QI-QQ) based on a scheduling priority (SP), the scheduling priority (SP) being determined: —at least partly on a configured priority of the first queue (QI-QQ), —at least partly on a first meter value (MVl-MVM) of a first meter (Mi-MM) associated with the first queue (QI-QQ); and—at least partly on a second meter value (MVl-MVM) of a second meter (Ml-MM) associated with a first scheduling node (NI-NN); the first scheduling node being a parent node of the first queue.

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit for processing of packets in a network, the network processor comprising: communication interface configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch configured to switch packets between the communication interface and the processing means; and wherein the embedded switch is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means, and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit (10) for processing of packets in a network, the network processor (10) comprising: communication interface (14) configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means (16) for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch (12) configured to switch packets between the communication interface (14) and the processing means (16); and wherein the embedded switch (12) is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means (16) for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means (16), and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor and a method for processing a data packet, the method including steps of decreasing a value of a first credit parameter when the data packet is admitted to a processor at least partly based on the value of the first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and increasing the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a data storage level in a buffer in which the data packet is stored before being admitted to the processor, the value of the first credit parameter not being increased, so as to become larger than a second limit of the first credit parameter, when the buffer is empty.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor and a method for processing a data packet, the method including steps of decreasing a value of a first credit parameter when the data packet is admitted to a processor at least partly based on the value of the first credit parameter and a first limit of the first credit parameter, and increasing the value of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a data storage level in a buffer in which the data packet is stored before being admitted to the processor, the value of the first credit parameter not being increased, so as to become larger than a second limit of the first credit parameter, when the buffer is empty.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for communicating queue information. The method includes determining a queue state for each one of a plurality of queues at least partially based on respective queue length, selecting a queue with a greatest difference between the queue state of the queue and a last reported queue state of the queue, and reporting the queue state of the selected queue to at least one node.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a packet-processing system. This system includes an input which is configured to receive packets, wherein the packets include control-message (CM) packets and traffic packets. It also includes a pipeline to process the packets, wherein the pipeline includes access points for accessing an engine which services requests for packets, wherein CM packets and traffic packets access the engine through different access points. The system additionally includes an arbiter to schedule packets entering the pipeline. While scheduling the packets, the arbiter is configured to account for empty slots in the pipeline to ensure that when CM packets and traffic packets initiate accesses to the engine through different access points, the accesses do not cause an overflow at an input queue for the engine.

Abstract: A method to reduce buffer capacity in a processor includes giving the data packets admittance to the processor through at least one interface, storing the data packets in at least one input buffer, and using a packet rate shaper outside of a processing pipeline to control flow of the data packets to the pipeline before the data packets enter the pipeline. First and second data packets are given admittance to the pipeline in dependence on cost information per packet that is dependent upon an expected time period of residence of the first data packet in the pipeline. Cost information dependent upon an expected time period of residence of the second data packet in the pipeline differs from said cost information dependent upon the expected time period of residence of the first data packet in the pipeline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data buffer memory (104) and method for storing data in a data communications network, and to a data buffer system (100) comprising such a data buffer memory. The data buffer memory comprising a data section (104a?) comprising a number of memory pages (104a); and a package descriptor section (104b?) comprising a 5 number of package descriptors (104b); wherein at least one queue (103) of packets is stored in the data section (104a?) as an ordered set of packages, and wherein a package is an ordered set of packets.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that provides an intelligent port infrastructure for communication network devices. This is accomplished by incorporating a highly configurable pre-classifier module into the port infrastructure. This pre-classifier makes it possible to realign packet data to add a configurable number of bytes to the front of the packet, and also to select interesting data from incoming packets for further analysis. The selected data is sent into a configurable classification engine, which generates instructions that specify how to determine associated packet attributes. The packet attributes are then generated based on the instructions, and are forwarded along with the packet to downstream processing units.

Abstract: A method to reduce buffer capacity in a processor includes giving the data packets admittance to the processor through at least one interface, storing the data packets in at least one input buffer, and using a packet rate shaper outside of a processing pipeline to control flow of the data packets to the pipeline before the data packets enter the pipeline. First and second data packets are given admittance to the pipeline in dependence on cost information per packet that is dependent upon an expected time period of residence of the first data packet in the pipeline. Cost information dependent upon an expected time period of residence of the second data packet in the pipeline differs from said cost information dependent upon the expected time period of residence of the first data packet in the pipeline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor (1) and a method for a processor comprising processing means (2), the method comprising the steps of—admitting a data packet (D1, D2, D3) to the processing means (2) based at least partly on a value (CS1) of a first credit, parameter and a first limit (L1S1) of the first credit parameter,—decreasing the value (CS1) of the first credit parameter if the data packet (D1, D2, D3) is admitted to the processing means (2), and—increasing the value (CS1) of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a value (CS2) of a second credit parameter, based on which a data packet (D1, D2, D3) is admitted to the processing means (2).

Abstract: A method of and a network processor unit (10) for processing of packets in a network, the network processor (10) comprising: communication interface (14) configured to receive and transmit packets; at least one processing means (16) for processing packets or parts thereof; an embedded switch (12) configured to switch packets between the communication interface (14) and the processing means (16); and wherein the embedded switch (12) is configured to analyze a received packet and to determine whether the packet should be dropped or not; if the packet should not be dropped, the switch is configured to store the received packet, to send a first part of the packet to the processing means (16) for processing thereof, to receive the processed first part of the packet from the processing means (16), and to transmit the processed first part of the packet.