Abstract: A system, having a stream cache and a storage. The stream cache includes a stream cache controller adapted to control or mediate input data transmitted through the stream cache; and a stream cache memory. The stream cache memory is adapted to both store at least first portions of the input data, as determined by the stream cache controller, and to further output the stored first portions of the input data to a processor. The storage is adapted to receive and store second portions of the input data, as determined by the stream cache controller, and to further transmit the stored second portions of the input data for output to the processor.

Abstract: A device for data packet processing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a processor implemented on a chip, an on-chip internal segment memory accessible by the processor, an off-chip external segment memory and a data transfer channel between the internal segment memory and the external segment memory. The external segment memory comprises first and second memory segments wherein the first and second memory segments are different in size.

Abstract: In a method for classifying data packet units, each comprising a group of data packet parameters which comprises a plurality of data packet parameters, a subgroup of data packet parameters for configuring a classification key is selected, the data packet units are divided into data packet classes on the basis of the classification key and a selected classification algorithm, and the data packet units are allocated to further data packet parameters which correspond to the respective data packet class.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for storing transmission units in interworking between networks of differing protocol structure, in particular between ATM networks and Ethernet networks, and a corresponding network communications device. In accordance with the invention a storage in a segmented memory (10) is proposed in which the segmentation is chosen in such a way that the length of a segment of the segmented memory (10) corresponds to the length of the payload of an ATM cell. The storage of transmission units in the segmented memory (10) is preferably effected in the form of lists (40) which comprise descriptor segments (100) and data segments (200). The invention facilitates efficient storage and processing of transmission units with differing data structure and length.

Abstract: A device for data packet processing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a processor implemented on a chip, an on-chip internal segment memory accessible by the processor, an off-chip external segment memory and a data transfer channel between the internal segment memory and the external segment memory. The external segment memory comprises first and second memory segments wherein the first and second memory segments are different in size.

Abstract: An ATM-port module for an ATM-node having an Ethernet switch includes an ATM-controller; and an Ethernet-switch interface connecting it to the Ethernet switch. The switch has an Ethernet encapsulating-unit for encapsulating ATM cells processes by the ATM-controller into packets for transmission to the switch, and an Ethernet decapsulating-unit for extracting ATM cells from packets received from the switch. The module further includes a segmentation-and-reassembly unit; and a buffering-and-scheduling unit. The buffering-and-scheduling unit provides a processed enlarged-ATM-cell to the encapsulating-unit when an indication flag indicates that an ATM port is a destination port of the enlarged ATM-cell; and a processed enlarged-ATM-cell to the segmentation-and-reassembly unit when an indication flag indicates that an Ethernet port is the enlarged ATM-cell's destination port.

Abstract: In a method for classifying data packet units, each comprising a group of data packet parameters which comprises a plurality of data packet parameters, a subgroup of data packet parameters for configuring a classification key is selected, the data packet units are divided into data packet classes on the basis of the classification key and a selected classification algorithm, and the data packet units are allocated to further data packet parameters which correspond to the respective data packet class.

Abstract: The invention discloses removal of ATM cells from an ATM communications device. A first algorithm is provided by means of which, with the exception of a first and a last ATM cell in a frame, all newly arriving cells in the frame are removed. A second algorithm is provided by means of which all the ATM cells in a frame, from a first cell to a last cell, are removed on arrival in a queue from the ATM communications device. At a start of a transmission process, a user indicates a maximum number of ATM cells per frame, and the ATM cells using the number are transmitted when the maximum number is exceeded, the associated frame is discarded or the first algorithm is used. The invention solves this problem by defining rules whose application results in this method now being used only to a very limited extent.

Abstract: The invention discloses removal of ATM cells from an ATM communications device. A first algorithm is provided by means of which, with the exception of a first and a last ATM cell in a frame, all newly arriving cells in the frame are removed. A second algorithm is provided by means of which all the ATM cells in a frame, from a first cell to a last cell, are removed on arrival in a queue from the ATM communications device. At a start of a transmission process, a user indicates a maximum number of ATM cells per frame, and the ATM cells using the number are transmitted when the maximum number is exceeded, the associated frame is discarded or the first algorithm is used. The invention solves this problem by defining rules whose application results in this method now being used only to a very limited extent.

Abstract: A method for removal of ATM cells (2, 6) from an ATM communications device wherein ATM cells (2, 3, 5, 6) are respectively allocated in pluralities to a common frame (8, 9), whereby all ATM cells (2 . . . 6) of a frame (9) whose first ATM cell (2) is in the waiting list (1) are removed from a waiting list (1) for the administration of a sequence of ATM cells (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The method makes it possible to quickly and efficiently create space for cells having a higher priority in the ATM communications device.

Abstract: The invention discloses removal of ATM cells from an ATM communications device. A first algorithm is provided by means of which, with the exception of a first and a last ATM cell in a frame, all newly arriving cells in the frame are removed. A second algorithm is provided by means of which all the ATM cells in a frame, from a first cell to a last cell, are removed on arrival in a queue from the ATM communications device. At a start of a transmission process, a user indicates a maximum number of ATM cells per frame, and the ATM cells using the number are transmitted when the maximum number is exceeded, the associated frame is discarded or the first algorithm is used. The invention solves this problem by defining rules whose application results in this method now being used only to a very limited extent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for storing transmission units in interworking between networks of differing protocol structure, in particular between ATM networks and Ethernet networks, and a corresponding network communications device. In accordance with the invention a storage in a segmented memory (10) is proposed in which the segmentation is chosen in such a way that the length of a segment of the segmented memory (10) corresponds to the length of the payload of an ATM cell. The storage of transmission units in the segmented memory (10) is preferably effected in the form of lists (40) which comprise descriptor segments (100) and data segments (200). The invention facilitates efficient storage and processing of transmission units with differing data structure and length.

Abstract: A decision algorithm for discarding frames is disclosed. A method is disclosed including the application of rules which results in the limited use of the Partial Packet Discard (PPD) method and results in the ATM cells which are not assigned to a frame not being discarded. According to the described Early Packet Discard (EPD) system, all the cells in a frame, from the first cell to the last cell, are removed from an ATM communications device upon arrival in a queue. The EPD system results in no residual cells remaining from a damaged frame or from a frame which is to be removed for other reasons. Additionally, each connection has a Maximum Frame Size (MFS), which is measured in cells and depends on the connection. Thus, increased space is available for other ATM cells.

Abstract: An ATM-port module for an ATM-node having an Ethernet switch includes an ATM-controller and an Ethernet-switch interface for connecting the ATM-controller to the Ethernet switch.