Abstract: A method of dynamically allocating buffers involves receiving a packet onto an ingress circuit. The ingress circuit includes a memory that stores a free buffer list, and an allocated buffer list. Packet data of the packet is stored into a buffer. The buffer is associated with a buffer identification (ID). The buffer ID is moved from the free buffer list to the allocated buffer list once the packet data is stored in the buffer. The buffer ID is used to read the packet data from the buffer and into an egress circuit and is stored in a de-allocation buffer list in the egress circuit. A send buffer IDs command is received from a processor onto the egress circuit and instructs the egress circuit to send the buffer ID to the ingress circuit such that the buffer ID is pushed onto the free buffer list.

Abstract: A novel hash range lookup command is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes (a) providing access to a hash table that includes hash buckets having hash entry fields; (b) receiving a novel hash lookup command; (c) using the hash lookup command to determine hash command parameters, a hashed index value, and a flow key value; (d) using the hash command parameters and the hashed index value to generate hash values (addresses) to access entry fields in a selectable number of hash buckets; (e) comparing bits of the entry value in the entry field to bits of the flow key value; (f) repeating (d) through (e) until a match is determined or until the selectable number of hash buckets and entries have been accessed; and (g) returning either an address of the entry field containing the match or a result associated with the entry field containing the match.

Abstract: An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit includes islands organized in rows. A configurable mesh event bus extends through the islands and is configured to form a local event ring. The configurable mesh event bus is configured with configuration information received via a configurable mesh control bus. The local event ring involves event ring circuits and event ring segments. In one example, a packet is received onto a first island. If an amount of a processing resource (for example, memory buffer space) available to the first island is below a threshold, then an event packet is communicated from the first island to a second island via the local event ring. In response, the second island causes a third island to communicate via a command/push/pull data bus with the first island, thereby increasing the amount of the processing resource available to the first island for handing incoming packets.

Abstract: A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a base address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the lookup command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The TM uses the starting bit position and the mask size to select a portion of the IV. A first sub-portion of the portion of the IV and the base address are summed to generate a memory address. The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs) from memory. One RV from the word is selected using a multiplexing circuit and a second sub-portion of the portion of the IV. If the selected RV is a final value, then lookup operation is complete and the TM sends the RV to the processor, otherwise the TM performs another lookup operation based upon the selected RV.

Abstract: An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit includes islands organized in rows. A configurable mesh event bus extends through the islands and is configured to form a local event ring. The configurable mesh event bus is configured with configuration information received via a configurable mesh control bus. The local event ring involves event ring circuits and event ring segments. In one example, a packet is received onto a first island. If an amount of a processing resource (for example, memory buffer space) available to the first island is below a threshold, then an event packet is communicated from the first island to a second island via the local event ring. In response, the second island causes a third island to communicate via a command/push/pull data bus with the first island, thereby increasing the amount of the processing resource available to the first island for handing incoming packets.

Abstract: A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a base address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the lookup command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The TM uses the starting bit position and the mask size to select a portion of the IV. A first sub-portion of the portion of the IV and the base address are summed to generate a memory address. The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs) from memory. One RV from the word is selected using a multiplexing circuit and a second sub-portion of the portion of the IV. If the selected RV is a final value, then lookup operation is complete and the TM sends the RV to the processor, otherwise the TM performs another lookup operation based upon the selected RV.

Abstract: An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit has a high performance processor island. The processor island has a processor and a tightly coupled memory. The integrated circuit also has another memory. The other memory may be internal or external memory. The header of an incoming packet is stored in the tightly coupled memory of the processor island. The payload is stored in the other memory. In one example, if the amount of a processing resource is below a threshold then the header is moved from the first island to the other memory before the header and payload are communicated to an egress island for outputting from the integrated circuit. If, however, the amount of the processing resource is not below the threshold then the header is moved directly from the processor island to the egress island and is combined with the payload there for outputting from the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit has a high performance processor island. The processor island has a processor and a tightly coupled memory. The integrated circuit also has another memory. The other memory may be internal or external memory. The header of an incoming packet is stored in the tightly coupled memory of the processor island. The payload is stored in the other memory. In one example, if the amount of a processing resource is below a threshold then the header is moved from the first island to the other memory before the header and payload are communicated to an egress island for outputting from the integrated circuit. If, however, the amount of the processing resource is not below the threshold then the header is moved directly from the processor island to the egress island and is combined with the payload there for outputting from the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit includes islands organized in rows. A configurable mesh event bus extends through the islands and is configured to form a local event ring. The configurable mesh event bus is configured with configuration information received via a configurable mesh control bus. The local event ring involves event ring circuits and event ring segments. In one example, a packet is received onto a first island. If an amount of a processing resource (for example, memory buffer space) available to the first island is below a threshold, then an event packet is communicated from the first island to a second island via the local event ring. In response, the second island causes a third island to communicate via a command/push/pull data bus with the first island, thereby increasing the amount of the processing resource available to the first island for handing incoming packets.

Abstract: An integrated circuit on which are implemented a number of devices that conform to the Rapidio network architecture. Included in the integrated circuit are two addressed RapidIO devices and switching devices which provide 24 switching ports. The devices have a packet receiving side and a packet transmitting side; the packet receiving side of each of the devices is connected by 128-bit wide paths termed poles its own packet transmitting side and each of the other transmitting sides. Features of the integrated circuit include centralized multicasting and configuration control for all of the devices on the integrated circuit, provisions for having more than one address in a RapidIO device, techniques for defining the address space routed by a routing table, techniques for managing congestion, and advanced buffer management techniques.

Abstract: Conditions in a fluidized bed are measured with a probe and a circuit. The bed can be a polymerization reactor's reaction chamber, and the conditions can result in "sheeting" which is the build up of polymer on the chamber walls. The probe protrudes into the bed and detects a current which generally is a function of at least the impact and charge of particulates in the bed. The current detected by the probe is related to the conditions in the bed. The circuit measures the detected current. The probe has an inner probe piece of metallic material within an insulator of polymeric material. A portion of the insulator protrudes a first distance into the bed, and a portion of the inner probe piece protrudes a second distance into the bed. The first distance is less than or equal to the second distance. The insulator typically does not extend as far into the bed as the inner probe piece.

Abstract: A microprocessor (48) controlled triboelectric instrument with probe fouling detection, zero offset adjustments and temperature compensation. The system programmability provides for enhanced operator control and operator monitoring wherein the system may be reprogrammed to advantage to reduce instrument down time.