Abstract: A method for handling speculative access requests for a storage device in a computer system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a speculative access threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of accesses to be speculatively issued, and intermixing demand accesses and speculative accesses in accordance with the speculative access threshold. In another embodiment, a method for reducing data access latency experienced by a user in a computer network is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a web page comprising a link to a data file stored on a database connected to the computer network, selecting a speculative access threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of data accesses which are to be speculatively provided to the user, and speculatively providing the data file in accordance with the speculative access threshold.

Abstract: The decision within a packet processing device to transmit a newly arriving packet into a queue to await further processing or to discard the same packet is made by a flow control method and system. The flow control is updated with a constant period determined by storage and flow rate limits. The update includes comparing current queue occupancy to a threshold. The outcome of the update is adjustment up or down of the transmit probability value. The value is stored for the subsequent period of flow control and packets arriving during that period are subject to a transmit or discard decision that uses that value.

Abstract: A system and method for handling speculative read requests for a memory controller in a computer system are provided. In one example, a method includes the steps of providing a speculative read threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of reads that can be speculatively issued, and intermixing demand reads and speculative reads in accordance with the speculative read threshold. In another example, a computer system includes a CPU, a memory controller, memory, a bus connecting the CPU, memory controller and memory, circuitry for providing a speculative read threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of reads that can be speculatively issued, and circuitry for intermixing demand reads and speculative reads in accordance with the speculative read threshold.

Abstract: A method for handling speculative access requests for a storage device in a computer system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a speculative access threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of accesses to be speculatively issued, and intermixing demand accesses and speculative accesses in accordance with the speculative access threshold. In another embodiment, a method for reducing data access latency experienced by a user in a computer network is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a web page comprising a link to a data file stored on a database connected to the computer network, selecting a speculative access threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of data accesses which are to be speculatively provided to the user, and speculatively providing the data file in accordance with the speculative access threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for handling speculative read requests for a memory controller in a computer system are provided. In one example, a method includes the steps of providing a speculative read threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of reads that can be speculatively issued, and intermixing demand reads and speculative reads in accordance with the speculative read threshold. In another example, a computer system includes a CPU, a memory controller, memory, a bus connecting the CPU, memory controller and memory, circuitry for providing a speculative read threshold corresponding to a selected percentage of the total number of reads that can be speculatively issued, and circuitry for intermixing demand reads and speculative reads in accordance with the speculative read threshold.

Abstract: The decision within a packet processing device to transmit a newly arriving packet into a queue to await further processing or to discard the same packet is made by a flow control method and system. The flow control is updated with a constant period determined by storage and flow rate limits. The update includes comparing current queue occupancy to a threshold. The outcome of the update is adjustment up or down of the transmit probability value. The value is stored for the subsequent period of flow control and packets arriving during that period are subject to a transmit or discard decision that uses that value.

Abstract: The decision within a packet processing device to transmit a newly arriving packet into a queue to await further processing or to discard the same packet is made by a flow control method and system. The flow control is updated with a constant period determined by storage and flow rate limits. The update includes comparing current queue occupancy to a threshold. The outcome of the update is adjustment up or down of the transmit probability value. The value is stored for the subsequent period of flow control and packets arriving during that period are subject to a transmit or discard decision that uses that value.

Abstract: A network apparatus comprising storage units storing configuration information about the network apparatus, an input network interface to at least one network physical line, at least one processor receiving network data from said network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units, a first bus interface to two bus connections, a first hardware component reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface, a second bus interface to two bus connections, an output network interface to at least one network physical line, a second hardware component reading formatted data units arriving on at least one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface and storing said formatted data units in said storage un

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: The decision within a packet processing device to transmit a newly arriving packet into a queue to await further processing or to discard the same packet is made by a flow control method and system. The flow control is updated with a constant period determined by storage and flow rate limits. The update includes comparing current queue occupancy to a threshold. The outcome of the update is adjustment up or down of the transmit probability value. The value is stored for the subsequent period of flow control and packets arriving during that period are subject to a transmit or discard decision that uses that value.

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely powering an Ethernet network repeater through an attachment unit interface (AUI) between the repeater and a remote personal computer (“PC”) or workstation. The AUI includes logic circuitry to detect when the Ethernet is supporting a transmit signal and a receive signal. Associated with the AUI is a DC to DC converter which receives, remotely through the AUI interface, a DC voltage from the PC or workstation and converts the DC voltage into working voltages for the remote repeater.

Abstract: Dynamic address assignment and reconfiguration of serially connected addressable device components of a network system using interchangeable cables terminated by plugs. Successive pairs of the devices are coupled with identical cables having the same offset cross-connected wiring between the terminating plugs, but which establish a unique address for the device to which connected depending on the position of the device in a chain of connected devices without requiring changes to the devices per se, e.g., jumpers or switches. The bus structure requires only a single port per device and removal, failure, or replacement of a device does not affect nor impair the proper operation of the other devices.