Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes an instruction store to store instructions of at least a portion of at least one program and multiple engines coupled to the shared instruction store. The engines provide multiple execution threads and include an instruction cache to cache a subset of the at least the portion of the at least one program from the instruction store, with different respective portions of the engine's instruction cache being allocated to different respective ones of the engine threads.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes an instruction store to store instructions of at least a portion of at least one program and multiple engines coupled to the shared instruction store. The engines provide multiple execution threads and include an instruction cache to cache a subset of the at least the portion of the at least one program from the instruction store, with different respective portions of the engine's instruction cache being allocated to different respective ones of the engine threads.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes an instruction store to store instructions of at least a portion of at least one program and multiple engines coupled to the shared instruction store. The engines provide multiple execution threads and include an instruction cache to cache a subset of the at least the portion of the at least one program from the instruction store, with different respective portions of the engine's instruction cache being allocated to different respective ones of the engine threads.

Abstract: A method may be used for assembling received data segments into full packets in an initial processing stage in a processor. The method may include receiving a plurality of data segments from a packet and determining a first storage location for each of the plurality of data segments. The method may further include storing each of the plurality of data segments in its determined first storage location and determining a second storage location for each of the plurality of data segments, the second storage locations being logically ordered to represent the order the data segments originally occurred in the packet. The method may also include storing each of the plurality of data segments in its determined second storage location to re-assemble the packet and releasing the first storage location associated with each data segment after storing the data segment in its determined second storage location.

Abstract: In-band flow control data may be received from a switch fabric at a first network processor. The received in-band flow control data may be transmitted to a second network processor using a flow control bus. The second network processor may determine which receive queues in the switch fabric exceed a predetermined overflow threshold based on the in-band flow control data. The second processor may transmit data to the receive queues in the switch fabric determined not to exceed the predetermined overflow threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving network router line rate performance by an improved system for error correction is described. In an embodiment of the present invention, error correction is performed by a hardware-based system within the processing engine of a router's network processor.

Abstract: A multi-threaded microprocessor with support for packet header splitting during receive packet processing operations and packet header splicing during transmit packet processing operations, as well as optimized recovery of transmit resources, is presented.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes a memory to store at least a portion of instructions of at least one program and multiple packet engines that include an engine instruction cache to store a subset of the at least one program. The processor also includes circuitry coupled to the packet engines and the memory to receive requests from the multiple engines for subsets of the at least one portion of the at least one set of instructions.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes an instruction store to store instructions of at least a portion of at least one program and a set of multiple engines coupled to the instruction store. The engines include an engine instruction cache and circuitry to request a subset of the at least the portion of the at least one program.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a processor that includes an instruction store to store instructions of at least a portion of at least one program and multiple engines coupled to the shared instruction store. The engines provide multiple execution threads and include an instruction cache to cache a subset of the at least the portion of the at least one program from the instruction store, with different respective portions of the engine's instruction cache being allocated to different respective ones of the engine threads.

Abstract: A method of executing instructions on a processor includes, receiving a first condition code produced by executing a first instruction during a first clock cycle on an array of engines included in the processor, receiving a second condition code produced by executing a second instruction during a second clock cycle on the array of engines included in the processor, and executing a logical operator on the first and second condition codes during the second clock cycle on the array of engines included in the processor.

Abstract: A method executed in a computing device for scheduling data packet transfer, the method includes receiving a first and second bit, the first bit indicates if a first digital device is ready to transfer a first data packet, the second bit indicates if a second digital device is ready to transfer a second data packet, receiving a binary number that identifies the first bit, determining the first digital device is ready to transfer the first data packet based on the binary number identifying the first bit, and incrementing the binary number to identify the second bit.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating a serial chain of processors on a line card to allow longer processing time on a data set is disclosed. Each processor in the chain partially processes the data set, converts the data set to an interface protocol, and then transmits the data set to the next processor in the chain. A bus interconnects each processor in the chain with the processor immediately precedent, allowing flow control information to be sent back. A loop back configuration can allow for additional processing of data within a switching fabric before transmission to a network.

Abstract: A multi-threaded microprocessor with support for packet header splitting during receive packet processing operations and packet header splicing during transmit packet processing operations, as well as optimized recovery of transmit resources, is presented.

Abstract: Processor architectures, and in particular, processor architectures that assemble data segments into full packets for efficient packet-based classification. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for assembling received data segments into full packets in an initial processing stage in a processor includes receiving a plurality of data segments from a packet, determining a first storage location for each of the plurality of data segments, and storing each of the plurality of data segments in its determined first storage location. The method also includes determining a second storage location for each of the plurality of data segments, said second storage locations being logically ordered to represent the order the data segments originally occurred in the packet and storing each of the plurality of data segments in its determined second storage location to re-assemble the packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving network router line rate performance by an improved system for error correction is described. In an embodiment of the present invention, error correction is performed by a hardware-based system within the processing engine of a router's network processor.

Abstract: In-band flow control data may be received from a switch fabric at a first network processor. The received in-band flow control data may be transmitted to a second network processor using a flow control bus. The second network processor may determine which receive queues in the switch fabric exceed a predetermined overflow threshold based on the in-band flow control data. The second processor may transmit data to the receive queues in the switch fabric determined not to exceed the predetermined overflow threshold.

Abstract: A voltage detector for providing an indication of the power supply level. The voltage detector includes a differential amplifier which compares the core voltage supply with the peripheral voltage supply. An output stage receives the determination and outputs a signal indicating whether the core voltage supply is the same as the peripheral power supply or whether the two are different.