System and method for speculatively issuing memory requests while maintaining a specified packet order
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsBruce E. Lavigne, Lewis S. Kootstra
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Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for forwarding packets in order. A first packet may be received for forwarding. Subsequently, a second packet may be received for forwarding. A first memory request corresponding to the first packet is sent. A second memory request corresponding to the second packet may be sent prior to receiving a first memory reply corresponding to the first memory request. The first packet is forwarded prior to forwarding the second packet. In this novel manner, bandwidth in a network apparatus may be utilized with greater efficiency while maintaining packet ordering.
Claims30
A method of speculatively issuing memory requests while maintaining a specified packet order comprising:
- receiving a first packet and a second packet for forwarding, wherein said first packet is received prior to said second packet;
- sending a first memory request corresponding to said first packet;
- sending a second memory request corresponding to said second packet prior to receiving a first memory reply corresponding to said first memory request;
- and
- forwarding said first packet prior to forwarding said second packet.
A network method comprising:
- receiving a first packet and a second packet for forwarding;
- sending a first memory request corresponding to said first packet;
- and
- sending a second memory request corresponding to said second packet prior to forwarding said first packet.
A networking device comprising:
- a first packet processor comprising:
- an input interface having a port to accept incoming packets;
- an input memory coupled to said input interface for temporarily storing said packets in a queue arranged by a receiving order;
- a second packet processor comprising:
- an output interface having a port to send said packets out of said networking device;
- an output memory coupled to said output interface for temporarily storing said packets;
- a switching fabric coupled to said first packet processor and said second packet processor for conveying information between said first packet processor and said second packet processor;
- and
- said first packet processor also for sending a memory request corresponding to a packet which is not at a head of said queue to said second packet processor.
A networking device comprising a means for sending a memory request corresponding to a second packet prior to sending a first packet, wherein said first packet is received prior to receiving said second packet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.