# US 2006/0291464 A1 · Data link/physical layer packet buffering and flushing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0291464 A1 - Document ID: US20060291464A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/511,944 - Filed: 2006-08-28 - Published: 2006-12-28 - Earliest claimed: 2001-07-30 - Assignees: Null Networks LLC - Inventors: Donald Primrose; I. Denton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060291464A1 ## CPC - H04L 49/9078: {using an external memory or storage device} - H04L 49/30: {Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports} - H04L 49/90: Buffering arrangements - H04L 49/9047: including multiple buffers, e.g. buffer pools - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A buffering structure including at least a first FIFO storage structure to stage at least a selected one of undiverted egress packets and undiverted ingress packets is provided. The buffering structure further includes at least first associated packet drop logic to selectively effectuate head or tail flushes of the first FIFO storage structure. In various embodiments, one or more additional FIFO storage structures are also provided to stage one or more diverted and/or insertion of egress/ingress packets. Those use for staging diverted egress/ingress packets are likewise provided with associated packet drop logic to perform tail flushes of these additional FIFO structures. In one application, the buffering structure is employed by a multi-protocol network processor, which in turn is employed by an optical networking module. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-59. (canceled) ### Claim 60 An optical networking module comprising: an optical component adapted send and receive optical signals encoded with data transmitted through a coupled optical medium; an optical-electrical component coupled to the optical component adapted to encode digital data onto optical signals and to decode encoded digital data on optical signals back into their digital forms; a data link/physical layer processing unit, coupled to the optical-electrical component and to a packet source/sink, including a buffering structure having at least a first FIFO storage structure adapted to stage a selected one of undiverted ones of a plurality of ingress packets and undiverted ones of a plurality of egress packets, and first associated packet drop logic coupled to the first FIFO storage structure to selectively effectuate head or tail flush of the first FIFO storage structure; and a body encasing said optical component, said optical-electrical component, and said data link/physical processing unit as a single module. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first associated packet drop logic comprises both write drop logic coupled to an input end of the first FIFO storage structure and being adapted to perform a tail flush of the first FIFO storage structure under a first plurality of conditions, and read drop logic coupled to an output end of the first FIFO storage structure and adapted to perform a head flush of the first FIFO storage structure under said first plurality of conditions ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first FIFO storage stages undiverted ones of said plurality of ingress packets, wherein said buffering stage further comprises at least a second FIFO storage structure adapted to stage undiverted ones of said plurality of egress packets, and wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit further comprises second associated packet drop logic coupled to the second FIFO storage structure and being adapted to effectuate tail flushes of the second FIFO storage structure. ### Claim 63 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first FIFO storage stages undiverted ones of said plurality of egress packets, wherein said buffering stage further comprises at least a second FIFO storage structure adapted to stage diverted ones of the plurality of egress packets, and wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit further comprises second associated packet drop logic coupled to the second FIFO storage structure and being adapted to effectuate tail flushes of the second FIFO storage structure. ### Claim 64 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first FIFO storage stages undiverted ones of said plurality of egress packets, wherein said buffering stage further comprises at least a second FIFO storage structure adapted to stage insertion ones of the plurality of egress packets, and wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit further comprises second associated packet drop logic coupled to the second FIFO storage structure and being adapted to effectuate head flushes of the second FIFO storage structure. ### Claim 65 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first FIFO storage stages undiverted ones of said plurality of ingress packets, wherein said buffering stage further comprises at least a second FIFO storage structure adapted to stage diverted ones of the plurality of ingress packets, and wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit further comprises second associated packet drop logic coupled to the second FIFO storage structure and being adapted to effectuate tail flushes of the second FIFO storage structure. ### Claim 66 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said first FIFO storage stages undiverted ones of said plurality of ingress packets, wherein said buffering stage further comprises at least a second FIFO storage structure adapted to stage insertion ones of the plurality of ingress packets, and wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit further comprises second associated packet drop logic coupled to the second FIFO storage structure and being adapted to effectuate head flushes of the second FIFO storage structure. ### Claim 67 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said optical and optical-electrical components and said data link/physical layer processing unit are all adapted to support data rates up to at least 10 GB/s. ### Claim 68 (depends on 60) The optical networking module of claim 60, wherein said data link/physical layer processing unit includes a multi-protocol processor adapted to support a plurality of datacom and telecom protocols. ### Claim at position 11 69-75. (canceled) ### Claim at position 12 76-79. (canceled)