Real-time, time aware, dynamic, context aware and reconfigurable ethernet packet classification

A device comprising:

• a network interface circuit configured to receive a packet that has a set of attributes;
• a packet classifier circuit coupled to the network interface circuit;
• and
• a set of processing units coupled to the packet classifier circuit, wherein the packet classifier circuit is configured to determine, based on the set of attributes whether to cause the network interface circuit to begin to provide the packet to the set of processing units prior to the packet being completely received by the network interface circuit;
• and
• a scheduling circuit coupled to the packet classifier circuit and configured to define:
• a first time phase during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit prior to the packet being completely received;
• a second time phase during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit prior to or after the packet is completely received;
• and
• a third time phase during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit after the packet is completely received.

A device comprising:

• a network interface circuit configured to receive a packet that has a set of attributes that includes a time at which the packet was received;
• and
• a packet classifier circuit coupled to the network interface circuit and configured to couple to a processing unit, wherein the packet classifier circuit is configured to determine, based on the set of attributes:
• whether to, during a communication cycle divided into a plurality of intervals including a first interval and a second interval that occurs after the first interval, cause the network interface circuit to begin to provide the packet to the processing unit during the first interval prior to the packet being completely received by the network interface circuit and if a port if available, or to cause the network interface circuit to wait to provide the packet to the processing unit during the second interval after the packet is completely received and if a port is available.

A method comprising:

• receiving a packet at a network interface circuit, wherein the packet is associated with a set of attributes that includes a time at which the packet was received;
• determining, based on the set of attributes and within a communication cycle divided into a plurality of intervals including a first interval and a second interval that occurs after the first interval, whether to begin to provide the packet, by the network interface circuit to a processing unit, during the first interval before the packet has been completely received by the network interface circuit and if a port is available, or to wait to provide the packet, by the network interface circuit to the processing unit, during the second interval after the packet is completely received and if a port is available;
• and
• providing the packet, by the network interface circuit, to the processing unit.

A method comprising:

• receiving a packet at a network interface circuit, wherein the packet is associated with a set of attributes;
• determining whether to begin to provide the packet, by the network interface circuit to a processing unit, before the packet has been completely received by the network interface circuit based on the set of attributes;
• defining:
• a first time during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit prior to the packet being completely received;
• a second time during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit prior to or after the packet is completely received;
• and
• a third time during which the packet is permitted to be provided by the network interface circuit after the packet is completely received;
• and
• providing the packet, by the network interface circuit, to the processing unit.