Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that provide short packet transmission by a network interface controller (NIC). The NIC may receive a signal indicating that a set of buffer descriptors is available for fetching from a host device. The NIC is configured to fetch the set of buffer descriptors from the host device, the set of buffer descriptors comprising a control flag, the control flag indicating whether the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data; and the NIC may transmit the immediate packet data as a transmit packet if the control flag indicates that the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that provide short packet transmission by a network interface controller (NIC). The NIC may receive a signal indicating that a set of buffer descriptors is available for fetching from a host device. The NIC is configured to fetch the set of buffer descriptors from the host device, the set of buffer descriptors comprising a control flag, the control flag indicating whether the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data; and the NIC may transmit the immediate packet data as a transmit packet if the control flag indicates that the set of buffer descriptors comprises immediate packet data.

Abstract: A network controller in a communication device may be operable to provide pass-through communication of local host-management traffic between a local host and a management controller within the communication device, wherein the local host may be operable to utilize its network processing resources during communication of the local host-management traffic. The network controller may use packet filtering to provide the pass-through communication, wherein the network controller may utilize a plurality filtering rules during filtering of packets received in the network controller. The filtering rules may specify packet processing and/or forwarding actions by said network controller based on one or more specified conditions. The specified conditions may based on one or more match criteria; wherein the match criteria comprising source address, destination address, and/or traffic type data in the received packets.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing access to computing system resources, such as files, disks, flash storage and/or other resources, are disclosed. A combination network interface and storage device can be installed in a computing system, which can be configured to draw power when a host computing system is in a sleep state. A subsystem executed by the combination network interface and storage device can allow a client device to submit a request for a file stored in a storage medium accessible to the device. Additionally, the subsystem can facilitate mirroring of files from mass storage devices by the operating system and/or applications executed by the host computing system when the computing system is not in a sleep state.

Abstract: A network controller in a communication device may be operable to provide pass-through communication of local host-management traffic between a local host and a management controller within the communication device, wherein the local host may be operable to utilize its network processing resources during communication of the local host-management traffic. The network controller may use packet filtering to provide the pass-through communication, wherein the network controller may utilize a plurality filtering rules during filtering of packets received in the network controller. The filtering rules may specify packet processing and/or forwarding actions by said network controller based on one or more specified conditions. The specified conditions may based on one or more match criteria; wherein the match criteria comprising source address, destination address, and/or traffic type data in the received packets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data communication are disclosed and may include utilizing a multi-level lookup process for determining IPsec parameters from a security association database. The security association database may be stored in content addressable memory, and may include an Internet protocol address table, a security association lookup table, and a security association context table. The security association lookup and security association context tables may include a single table. An Internet protocol address table index may be looked up in the Internet protocol address table for a first lookup of the multi-level lookup process. A security protocol index may be looked up utilizing the Internet protocol address table index for a second lookup of the multi-level lookup process. The Internet protocol security parameters may be determined utilizing the security protocol index. IPsec processing may be performed utilizing the determined Internet protocol security parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for virtualization and re-direction of I/O connections to peripheral devices are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include virtualizing one or more peripheral devices via corresponding PCI/PCIe level functions. The virtualization may comprise, for example, emulating peripheral device controllers. The PCI and/or PCIe level functions may then redirect accesses to peripheral devices to corresponding virtual devices. Since a PCI/PCIe level function may emulate a peripheral device controller, the redirecting may occur without modifying an operating system for the electronic system or the corresponding device driver used to access the peripheral device. Accordingly, virtualization and redirection may enable controlling a remote electronic system over a network. The controlling of a remote electronic system may comprise, for example, storing and accessing data in a remote storage device, booting from the remote storage device, and scanning and/or printing at the remote device.

Abstract: A portion of management traffic, carried via network traffic, and received and/or transmitted via a network controller, may be processed externally to the network controller, wherein management messaging may be carried via network packets, and one or more headers may added to enable transmission and/or reception via the network controller. Packet filters may be setup, in the network controller, via the management controller, to enable determining network packets that may carry the management traffic. The management controller may utilize commands to setup packet filers in the network controller, wherein matching criteria, in received network packets, and/or corresponding actions that may be performed in matching packets, may be specified. The matching criteria may comprise specifying one or more header types that may be utilized in the received network packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuring a timing feedback path in a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes an oscillator adapted to provide a reference clock signal. The apparatus further includes at least one buffer layer adapted to receive the reference clock signal and provide a delayed clock signal, a selector adapted to select one of the delayed clock signal and the reference clock signal, and a device adapted to provide an output clock signal such that the selected one of the delayed clock signal and the reference clock signal is substantially in phase with the reference clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for arbitrating master-slave transactions. The apparatus includes a slave device adapted to receive a first request from a first master device. The apparatus further includes a record of one or more previous requests from the first master device and at least one additional master device, wherein the slave device is adapted to grant the first request based upon the record.

Abstract: A microprocessor and associated method includes a plurality of resources for executing instructions, and an out-of-order instruction shelf for priority/age tracking of the instructions. The instruction shelf has an instruction pool with a plurality of slots therein for storing respective instructions, and an instruction age tracker for storing therein a matrix of rows and columns of logic states associated with relative ages of instructions. The logic states in a given column and row of the matrix are associated with a respective slot of the instruction pool. Also, the microprocessor includes an instructions scheduler for performing at least one logic function on each column of the matrix to determine an oldest instruction, for dispatching instructions to the plurality of resources based thereon, and for updating the matrix based upon dispatched instructions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuring a timing feedback path in a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes an oscillator adapted to provide a reference clock signal. The apparatus further includes at least one buffer layer adapted to receive the reference clock signal and provide a delayed clock signal, a selector adapted to select one of the delayed clock signal and the reference clock signal, and a device adapted to provide an output clock signal such that the selected one of the delayed clock signal and the reference clock signal is substantially in phase with the reference clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for arbitrating master-slave transactions. The apparatus includes a slave device adapted to receive a first request from a first master device. The apparatus further includes a record of one or more previous requests from the first master device and at least one additional master device, wherein the slave device is adapted to grant the first request based upon the record.