Abstract: Intelligent admission control is achieved in a packet switch while minimizing the reduction in throughput. An array of limit values is stored in a memory of the switch and is accessed according to an indexing scheme. As each packet is received, an index is created and an associated limit value is retrieved for a one-step comparison with a corresponding status value read from a hardware register of the switch to determine whether or not to admit the packet. Accordingly, the number of conditional branches implemented in the microcode is greatly reduced and the packets are processed faster, which results in an increased throughput in the switch. An optional second comparison can be made based on a corresponding probability value stored in the array (with each limit value) before discarding a packet. A random number is compared to each probability value to determine whether to admit the associated packet.

Abstract: An angle finder (10) and level (40) are disclosed. The level (10) and angle (40) have digital displays (17) which provide a visual, numerical representation of the angular alignment of a reference surface in relation to a gravitational vector. Angle finder (10) and level (40) are controlled by a microprocessor (19). A disc enclosure (18) contains a rotatably mounted disc (23) on which is mounted a weight (26). Weight (26) keeps disc (23) in a relatively constant position relative to the gravitational vector. Also mounted in the disc enclosure (18) are photodetectors (27), (28) and (29). Disc (23) contains markings (30) which, in the disclosure of this application, each represent two degrees of arc. The three photodetectors (27), (28) and (29) sense the movement of markings (30) and by logical computation microprocessor (19) determines the angular alignment of the reference surface.