Abstract: The document discloses a method for invoking a routing algorithm, an SDN-OAF, and an SDN controller. The method includes pre-configuring a customized routing algorithm; an SDN controller receiving a path computation request from an application, invoking a corresponding customized routing algorithm according to information about the customized routing algorithm carried in the path computation request to compute a service path.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a critical phase of a virtual machine migration are described herein. During the critical phase, which must be kept as short as possible, a virtual machine instance is paused, network packets are rerouted to a temporary packet queue, and messages associated with managing synchronization of block storage devices are dispatched to an entity configured to manage those connections. After the block storage devices are synchronized, the network packets are released from the temporary packet queue to the new location of the virtual machine instance.

Abstract: A method of network level protection route evaluation and remediation in a network includes defining thresholds for one or more services, wherein the thresholds define how many expected alternate protection routes are available for the one or more services for network level restoration; periodically evaluating a number of available alternate protection routes for the one or more services; notifying a network operator responsive to the number of available alternate protection routes being below the thresholds; and performing one or more remedial actions in the network based on the notifying.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for managing transactions in a software defined network (SDN). A method performed in a controller may comprise generating a group message for modifying flow entries of a plurality of flow tables related to each other in a switch; and transmitting the group message to the switch. Thus, a plurality of flow tables having relevance to each other can be simultaneously modified so that modifications on a plurality of switches can be synchronized, and consistency of them can be guaranteed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an apparatus, a non-transitory computer-readable media, and a method are provided, involving a capability to receive an indication of a receipt of a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol; identify, from a header of the first packet, of a first outside-scope identifier configured to be identified from a plurality of path segment identifiers configured to be identified using the header, where the first outside-scope identifier, for the current node, is designated as an active identifier and identifies a first region that does not include the current node and that at least partially includes the receiving node, the first outside-scope identifier not specifically identifying a first network interface of the receiving node; and based on the first outside-scope identifier, cause transmission, via a first path segment, first data from the current node to the first network interface of the receiving node.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an apparatus, a non-transitory computer-readable media, and a method are provided, involving a technique to: based on a first outside-scope identifier and via a first network interface of the current node that is in a second network path segment including the previous node and the current node, receive an indication of a receipt of a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol or a label forwarding paradigm, the first outside-scope identifier identifying, in a first region, a second region communicatively coupled to the previous node via the first network interface of the current node, where the first outside-scope identifier does not identify any network interface; identify, from a header of the first packet, a second outside-scope identifier that does not identify any network interface, the second outside-scope identifier identifying a third region that does not include the current node; and using the second outside-scope identifier, cause t

Abstract: In a load sharing method and a router device, each of the router devices in a load sharing relationship obtains load sharing information of all downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device, and when determining load sharing information of the router device, the router device determines the load sharing information of the router device according to the load sharing information of all the downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device, so that a disturbance factor of the router device is different from disturbance factors of all the downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device. Therefore, a coupling degree of load sharing information of all the router devices in a load sharing relationship in the network is reduced, and load sharing at all levels is even.

Abstract: Segregating a node port experiencing ingress. A node that provides a service to a plurality of cable modems may have a plurality of node ports. The node may be a Remote PHY Node or a Remote MACPHY node. In response to detecting that a particular node port of the node is experiencing ingress, the assignment of node ports to upstream device ports are adjusted so that the particular node port experiencing ingress is not be assigned to the same upstream device port as any other node port. In further response to detecting ingress at the particular node port, all node ports assigned to the same upstream device port are caused to be assigned to the same downstream device port. By segregating the node port experiencing the ingress in this manner, the impact of that ingress can be mitigated or eliminated with respect to the other node ports of that node.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a plurality of nodes; a plurality of first switches respectively including information on a node to which the first switch is coupled; and a plurality of second switches respectively including information on an aggregation which the second switch is in charge of, wherein a first node transmits a first packet including destination information indicating that a destination is a second node, to a first switch coupled to the first node, and the first switch coupled to the first node transmits the first packet to a second switch that is in charge of an aggregation to which the second node belongs, when the second node is not coupled to the first switch, and the second switch transmits the first packet to a first switch coupled to the second node, and the first switch coupled to the second node transmits the first packet to the second node.

Abstract: Systems and methods to route packets of information within an integrated circuit, across one or more boards, racks, blades, and/or chassis, and/or across a connected network of packet processing engines include various modes of operation. Packets are routed to their destination, for example an individual packet processing engine. The packets of information include address-mode indicators, one or more destination port indicators, and/or (long-distance) addresses.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing communications in a network. At a router in a virtual private network, a packet is received from a device in a subnetwork protected by the router. The router examines the packet to determine a source address that identifies the device and a destination address that identifies a destination network device for the packet. The router also analyzes the packet to determine a size of the packet and determines whether or not the size of the packet is larger than a maximum transmission unit size. If the size of the packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit size, the router encapsulates the packet with a header that includes the destination address and a new source address that identifies the router.

Abstract: A method performed by a network device that taps to a network having a routing device, includes: receiving a first packet tapped from the network; determining a first information regarding an input interface of the routing device based on a destination address of the first packet; receiving a second packet tapped from the network; determining a second information regarding an output interface of the routing device based on a source address of the second packet; determining a first CRC for the first packet; determining a second CRC for the second packet; and comparing the first CRC with the second CRC at the network device to determine whether the first packet and the second packet are the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods for unicast traffic across multiple subnets in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a local inter-subnet manager (ISM) can allocate at least one router port in the local subnet for receiving traffic for a relevant end node belonging to an inter-subnet partition (ISP) for each remote subnet that also comprises end nodes sharing a same ISP membership, and can also set up address mappings for the relevant GID(s) (e.g., GID or GUID to LID mapping).

Abstract: A packet broker deployed in a visibility fabric may intelligently assign identifiers to data packets that are routed through sequences of one or more network tools for monitoring and/or security purposes. Guiding techniques based on these identifiers offer flexible support for multiple network tool operational modes. For example, the packet broker may be able to readily address changes in the state of a network tool connected to the packet broker by modifying certain egress translation schemes and/or ingress translation schemes. The “state” of a network tool can be “up” (i.e., ready for service) or “down” (i.e., out of service) based on, for example, the network tool's ability to pass through health-probing data packets dispatched by the packet broker.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet by a forwarder in an Information-Centric Networking (ICN) network; determining Bit Index Explicit Replication (BIER) information associated with the packet; and forwarding the packet based, at least in part, on the BIER information associated with the packet. The packet can be an interest packet or a data packet received by the forwarder in the ICN network.

Abstract: Techniques for stateful connection optimization over stretched networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, traffic of virtual machines (VMs) that are live-migrated from a data center to a cloud is temporarily tromboned back to the data center to preserve active sessions. In such a case, a stretched network is created that includes a network in the data center and two stub networks in the cloud, one of which is route optimized such that traffic does not trombone back to the data center and the other which is not so optimized. A VM that is live migrated to the cloud is first attached to the unoptimized network so that traffic tromboning occurs. Thereafter, when the VM is powered off (e.g., during a reboot), in a maintenance mode, or in a quiet period, the VM is switched to the route optimized network.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for partitioning classification resources in a network device in a high performance network. Classification resources can be configured into a plurality of levels of partitions, with one or more hardware-based partitions configured to store flow entries associated with frequently-used or performance-sensitive flows, and a firmware-based partition to access large lookup tables stored in one or more additional memories for classification resource scalability. A lookup key can be used for search for a flow entry match in the hardware-based partitions first. If there is a miss, the lookup key can be presented to the firmware-based partition for further search. Results from the firmware-based level can be dispatched back to a hardware-based parser for further processing. Flow entries can be moved between lookup tables by a partition management block based on utilization of the flow entries.

Abstract: The disclosed system provides for machine-to-machine routing of messages (e.g., text messages, binary information, etc.) between devices (e.g., external applications, IoT devices, etc.) using non-routable identifiers. The systems and methods publish an application programming interface (API) configured to receive (non-routable) identification information of a target device from an external application (e.g., an IoT Service Provider) that calls the API, determines whether a target device associated with the identification information is a subscriber of a telecommunications service provider that provides telecommunications plans to subscribers of the telecommunications service provider, verifies that the external application is authorized to transmit messages to the target device, and translates the non-routable identification information to a mapped device address that can be used to determine a location of the target device so that the message can be delivered to the target device.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems and methods for managing a trie routing table for a networking device of a communication or computer network. In one implementation, the networking device may utilize a dynamic algorithm for associating hashing functions with pivot tiles of the routing table to improve hash utilization and avoid hash collisions. Further, route prefixes may be relocated from pivot tiles in an attempt to free the tiles for reallocation to other prefix base width or may be relocated to other possible pivot tiles or to a general storage space when a hash collision is detected. This provides for even distribution of pivots within tiles which have base widths in range of a pivot route. The above implementations may occur together or separately to improve the operation of the networking device and provide faster route lookup.

Abstract: Virtual horizontally-scalable packet broker systems and methods are disclosed for distribution of session-based network traffic. One or more distributors along with a plurality of ingress processors and egress processors are operated within a virtual processing environment to forward session-based network traffic to network tools. The session-based network traffic includes user packets and control packets associated with user sessions. In addition, one or more session controllers are also operated within the virtual processing environment to dynamically control numbers of virtual processing nodes operating as the distributors, the ingress processors, and the egress processors. User packets are processed and distributed by the distributors, ingress processors, and the egress processors. Control packets are processed and distributed by the distributors, session controllers, and egress processors. The egress processors can include initial and secondary egress processors.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for organizing network routes using network topology information. A router in a computer network can be configured to group network address prefixes in a routing table based on origin device clusters. The router can be configured to receive a routing protocol message comprising one or more prefixes and associated next hops. The router can identify an origin device cluster based on information contained in the message. The router can create a next hop group and associate it with the origin device cluster. The router can add the prefixes and next hops in the message to the next hop group. When an updated next hop list for a prefix is received at the router, the router can identify an origin device cluster for the prefix, identify a next hop group associated with the origin device cluster, and update the next hop group using the updated next hop list.

Abstract: It is proposed a method for operating a radio communication network or a network element thereof, comprising the steps of: determining (2) a bearer to be processed in the radio communication network; selecting (4) a baseband unit, BBU, out of a plurality of BBUs, which satisfies at least one property of the bearer; and placing (8) the bearer on the selected BBU for processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods of network traffic engineering are provided. The system includes a switch and a controller. The controller can maintain a monitoring segment identifier set defining a path for traffic intended for a destination device. The controller can maintain a forwarding segment identifier set representing a compressed version of the monitoring segment identifier set such that traffic, when labeled according to the forwarding segment identifier set, will follow the path defined by the monitoring segment identifier set. The controller can monitor a status of the path defined by the monitoring segment identifier set. The controller can, subject to determining that the path defined by the monitoring segment identifier set is invalid, cause the switch to not label a packet received at the switch according to the forwarding segment identifier set.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a variety of devices, methods, and systems for load balancing in the internet of things. Devices and other entities can be grouped together in a load balancing group and traffic for such devices balanced according to load balancing criteria. Groups may be discovered, created, manipulated, and deleted by various entities.

Abstract: There is provided a transmission apparatus including at least one memory in which a first data including a first destination information and a second data including a second destination information are stored, and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one processor configured to control the at least one memory to output the first data and the second data stored in the at least one memory according to a set rate, and control the set rate to output one of the first data and the second data according to a priority degree.

Abstract: An appliance o for evicting data based on traffic priority of data is described. The appliance has one or more processors and includes a compression history manager configured to acquire traffic priority information of data, the data being conveyed over a connection and to assign a compression history set based on the traffic priority information of the data. The compression history manager is also configured to, if cache space does not exist to store the data and another compression history set corresponds to lower traffic priority in a cache queue, evict data from the other compression history set corresponding to lower traffic priority.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is operable to provide a facility for a communications session to a mobile node using an internet protocol. When changing affiliation from one of a first and second packet data network to the other of the first and second packet data network, a mobile node is operable to generate a service level identifier representing a requested priority to be afforded to the internet packets communicated to and from the mobile node with respect to other internet packets communicated to and from other nodes. The mobile node is also operable to generate a binding update internet packet providing a care of address of the mobile and an indication of the service level identifier in the binding update internet packet and to communicate the binding update internet data packets to a home agent of the mobile node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packet processing method, including: determining a type of a packet according to a parsed packet; extracting a characteristics field of the packet according to the determined type of the packet; determining a user-defined keyword corresponding to the packet and a threshold interval of the user-defined keyword according to the characteristics field; determining an OAM type of the packet according to the determined type of the packet, the user-defined keyword corresponding to the packet and the threshold interval of the user-defined keyword; and performing a corresponding OAM operation on the packet according to the determined OAM type; also disclosed are a packet processing device and a computer storage medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for acquiring a video bitstream, and relate to the field of information technologies, which can improve network bandwidth utilization. The method includes: firstly, acquiring, by a terminal, a minimum bit rate corresponding to a parameter of the terminal; then, sending, by the terminal, a video bitstream acquiring request to a server, and when receiving the video bitstream acquiring request sent by the terminal, sending, by the server, an MPD to the terminal; and finally, receiving, by the terminal, the MPD sent by the server, and acquiring a video bitstream according to the MPD and the minimum bit rate. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to a case in which a user downloads video data by using a terminal.

Abstract: A network has wireless access points, each configured for bi-directional communication, using a first radio protocol, with a communication device that has been associated with the access point by an association data exchange. Each access point is also configured to receive, at a first data rate using the first radio protocol, a multicast radio message and to forward the multicast message onto the network. A radio transmitter is configured to send data at a second data rate, using a second radio protocol different from the first radio protocol. A wireless communication unit transmits a multicast radio message at the first data rate using the first radio protocol. It also receives data from the radio transmitter at the second data rate using the second radio protocol and decodes the data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a network communication system that includes data sources and of switches. Each of the data sources and switches is interconnected by a packet-switched network, and is synchronized to a common clock. The system also includes a network controller that maintains records of network characteristics including a transmission delay for each of the data sources and switches, and a transmission delay for links in the packet-switched network. The network controller processes the network characteristics to generate, for each of a plurality of packets of a given type of traffic: a path from a particular data source, and through at least one particular switch, and a schedule of departure times at each of the particular data source and the at least one particular switch. The path and the schedule are optimized to meet jitter requirements for the given type of traffic.

Abstract: A method for testing a data packet signal transceiver device under test (DUT). Following initial signal communications with a DUT, timing of further transmissions by the DUT may be effectively controlled by transmitting congestive communication channel signals to cause the DUT to detect apparent communication channel activity and in response thereto delay its own signal transmissions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system to transmit independent data by at least two transmitters to corresponding at least two receivers. The method includes obtaining, at a first transmitter, a first ternary sequence from a first base ternary sequence corresponding to a first set of data-symbols, and obtaining, at a second transmitter, a second ternary sequence from a second base ternary sequence corresponding to a second set of data-symbols. The method also includes transmitting, from the first transmitter, the first ternary sequence to a first set of receivers associated with the first transmitter. The method transmits, from the second transmitter, the second ternary sequence to a second set of receivers associated with the second transmitter.

Abstract: A method for discovering a PMTU, applicable to a destination node of a path, includes: receiving fragment packets from a source node of the path; determining a detecting range based on a maximum length and a minimum fragment unit of the fragment packets; selecting a detecting value within the detecting range in accordance with a predetermined strategy, requesting the source node to respond with a response packet of a length equal to the detecting value, and determining a PMTU of the path based on whether the response packet from the source node is fragmented.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance network traffic management. In one implementation, a method of operating a network interface system on a host computing system includes receiving a plurality of network packets and, for each packet in the plurality of network packets, identifying whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a software defined network (SDN). The method further includes prioritizing, for processing by a main processing system of the computing system, each packet in the plurality of network packets based on whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a SDN.

Abstract: Computing resource services have computing resources allocated among regions and data zones, where regions can be completely separate deployments of an infrastructure to provide the highest degree of independence. The more regions that are utilized by a customer, the higher the level of fault tolerance may exist. Current networks consist of heavily distributed infrastructures or mainly centralized infrastructures, both of which can cause complete control plane failures when even a subset of a data zone or region loses network connectivity. The placement of control plane and data plane resources provides for optimal availability and durability during infrastructure failures.

Abstract: An example method for allocating resources in a multi-cloud environment may include receiving, by an allocation broker executing in the multi-cloud environment, a client request to create an allocation of cloud resource in a plurality of clouds. The method may include receiving, by the allocation broker from a reservation broker, a reservation candidate based on a reservation type. The reservation candidate is associated with a cloud, and the cloud corresponds to a cloud broker. The method may further include invoking, by the allocation broker, a location handler corresponding to the reservation type to identify a reservation in the cloud having sufficient resource quota to support the allocation of cloud resource, and invoking, by the allocation broker, an allocation handler corresponding to the reservation type to create the allocation of cloud resource in the reservation.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling distribution of resources on a network. In one embodiment, among others, a processor receives a request from a client device to access resources hosted by a distribution service. In response, the processor determines whether the client device is authorized to access the distribution service. The processor identifies which of the resources hosted by the distribution service are accessible to the client device based on the resource grouping identifiers associated with the client device. The processor determines which distribution rules are associated with the identified resources, the distribution rules including location rules and time rules. The processor then transmits the identified resources and identified distribution rules to the client device, where the resources are configured to be exclusively accessible via a containerized client application on the client device while the client device satisfies the distribution rules associated with the resources.

Abstract: A virtual resource automatic selection system includes a setting unit that sets, for a plurality of pieces of training data composed of two or more parameters, a classification boundary between virtual resource clusters that are ranked in accordance with a capacity of a virtual resource in terms of a relationship between the two or more parameters. When a construction request for a new virtual network is received, a receiving unit receives information composed of the parameters. A determining unit determines to which of the virtual resource clusters the parameters belong. An allocating unit allocates a capacity of a virtual resource to the virtual network. An acquiring unit acquires network performance information from the virtual network. A second determining unit determines whether the network performance information satisfies a desired quality of service. The setting unit updates the classification boundary in accordance with a determination result of the second determining unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for allocating resources in a communication system using an asset delivery characteristics (ADC) message so as to improve efficiency in network resource usage. A method for allocating network resources in a transmission unit of a communication system according to the present invention comprises the steps of: generating an ADC message that includes a parameter value representing a transmission characteristic of a single asset; and transmitting the generated ADC message, wherein the generated ADC message is updated periodically or aperiodically with respect to the asset.

Abstract: A client and content provider are connected by a plurality of simultaneous transport connections. The number of the transport connections that are used to transfer data is selected based on the size of the data to be transferred and may change after transfer of data has commenced based on the amount of data left and the attributes of the transport connections. In another aspect, data to be transmitted over the transport connections is organized into frames such that each frame includes data from only one data stream. The frames are sized to be less than or equal to a control window of the transport connection over which they are transmitted. Each frame may be assigned to a transport connection in a round robin fashion or based on the size of the frame and the sizes of the control windows of the transport connections.

Abstract: A method of multicasting packets by a forwarding element that includes several packet replicators and several egress pipelines. Each packet replicator receives a data structure associated with a multicast packet that identifies a multicast group. Each packet replicator identifies a first physical egress port of a first egress pipeline for sending the multicast packet to a member of the multicast group. The first physical egress port is a member of LAG. Each packet replicator determines that the first physical egress port is not operational and identifies a second physical port in the LAG for sending the multicast packet to the member of the multicast group. When a packet replicator is connected to the same egress pipeline as the second physical egress, the packet replicator provides the identification of the second physical egress port to the egress pipeline to send the packet to the multicast member. Otherwise the packet replicator drops the packet.

Abstract: A registered state change notification system includes a switch device that is coupled to a plurality of end devices to provide a fabric. An application executing on the switch device detects a change that is associated with a zone in the fabric that includes a plurality of end devices and, in response, generates a multicast Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) that includes a Zone Fiber Channel Identifier (FCID) that is associated with the zone. Subsequently and without the use of the application, multicast hardware included in the switch device sends the multicast RSCN including the Zone FCID to at least a subset of the plurality of end devices.

Abstract: An InfiniBand switch fabric is described. This InfiniBand switch fabric includes a hierarchy of switches having physical ports. These physical ports have associated local routing tables for nearest-neighbor connections to the physical ports. Moreover, relationships between the nearest-neighbor connections to each of the physical ports specified in the local routing tables are based in part on network-layer global identifiers that are assigned based on the hierarchy. Furthermore, local routing tables in the switches facilitate paths or routes for packets through the InfiniBand switch fabric without using a global routing table in the switches. In addition, the InfiniBand switch fabric includes a fabric manager, coupled to the switches, having the global routing table to assign the network-layer global identifiers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for networking communications. One embodiment of a system includes a switch module having one or more ports with a communications interface of a first type and a switch fabric. The system also includes a switch controller that is in communication with the switch module, the switch controller having a first network operating system (ndOS) for controlling packet switching policy in the switch module. The system further includes a server that executes a hypervisor for processing one or more virtual machines. The sever includes a communication interface of the first type for communicating with the switch module, one or more processors, a second ndOS, and one or more virtual network interface cards (VNIC) for communicating with the switch module via the communication interface of the first type.

Abstract: In an embodiment an interface unit includes a transmit pipeline configured to transmit egress data, and a receive pipeline configured to receive ingress data. At least one of the transmit pipeline and the receive pipeline being may be configured to provide shared resources to a plurality of ports. The shared resources may include at least one of a data path resource and a control logic resource.

Abstract: A system for lossless switching of traffic in a network device may be implemented when a network switch is integrated into a gateway device, or with any other data source. A processor of the gateway device may receive queue depth information for queues of the network switch. The processor may prevent data from being transmitted to congested queues of the network switch, while allowing data to be transmitted to uncongested queues. In this manner, data loss can be avoided through the network switch for data sourced from the gateway device, such as audio-video data retrieved from a hard drive, audio-video data received from a tuner, etc. Furthermore, re-transmission at higher layers can be reduced. Since the subject system observes congestion for each individual queue, only traffic destined to that particular, congested, queue is affected, e.g. paused. Traffic to non-congested queues is not affected, regardless of traffic class or egress port.

Abstract: This disclosure describes enhancements to Ethernet for use in higher performance applications like Storage, HPC, and Ethernet based fabric interconnects. This disclosure provides various mechanisms for lossless fabric enhancements with error-detection and retransmissions to improve link reliability, frame pre-emption to allow higher priority traffic over lower priority traffic, virtual channel support for deadlock avoidance by enhancing Class of service functionality defined in IEEE 802.1Q, a new header format for efficient forwarding/routing in the fabric interconnect and header CRC for reliable cut-through forwarding in the fabric interconnect. The enhancements described herein, when added to standard and/or proprietary Ethernet protocols, broadens the applicability of Ethernet to newer usage models and fabric interconnects that are currently served by alternate fabric technologies like Infiniband, Fiber Channel and/or other proprietary technologies, etc.

Abstract: A network device that includes a plurality of packet processing components may receive traffic associated with one or more services. The network device may store state information for each of the plurality of packet processing components, while the plurality of packet processing components are receiving the traffic. The state information may include state configuration information and/or internal storage information. The state information may be stored using a data structure that is internal to the network device and external to the packet processing component. The network device may detect an error that prevents the packet processing component from processing at least a portion of the traffic. The network device may execute, based on detecting the error that prevents the packet processing component from processing at least the portion of the traffic, a recovery procedure that uses the state information to reset the packet processing component to an operational state.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for buffering data using a multi-function, multi-protocol first-in-first-out (FIFO) circuit. For example, a data buffering apparatus is provided that includes a mode selection input and a FIFO circuit that is operative to buffer a data signal between a FIFO circuit input and a FIFO circuit output, wherein the FIFO circuit is configured in an operating mode responsive to the mode selection signal.