Bookkeeping memory use in a search engine of a network device
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsBrandon Smith, Jun Cao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network device for processing data on a data network includes a port interface, in communication with a plurality of ports, configured to receive data packets from a data network and to send processed data packets to the data network and a bookkeeping memory, in communication with the port interface. The port interface is configured to store values associated with a data packet when a head of the data packet is received by a port of the plurality of ports and utilize the stored values, if needed, when a tail of the data packet is received by the port.
Claims21
A network device for processing data on a data network, the network device comprising:
- a port interface, in communication with a plurality of ports, configured to receive data packets from a data network and to send processed data packets to the data network;
- and
- a bookkeeping memory, in communication with the port interface;
- wherein the port interface is configured to store values associated with a data packet when a head of the data packet is received by a port of the plurality of ports and utilize the stored values, if needed, when a tail of the data packet is received by the port.
A method for processing data in a network device, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports;
- storing values associated with the data packet in a bookkeeping memory when a head of the data packet is received by the one port;
- retrieving the stored values, if needed, when a tail of the data packet is received by the one port.
A network device for processing data, the network device comprising:
- port means for receiving a data packet at one port of a plurality of ports;
- bookkeeping memory means for storing values associated with the data packet in a bookkeeping memory when a head of the data packet is received by the one port and retrieving the stored values, if needed, when a tail of the data packet is received by the one port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.