First-in, first-out memory circuit

A data memory for providing data storage and selective retrieval thereof, comprising:

• data memory means for receiving and storing incoming data having a first plurality of data subsets, wherein said first plurality of data subsets includes a second plurality of data subsets which contain valid data;
• generator means for receiving incoming data status information and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of validity bits, wherein said incoming data status information represents how many data subsets constitute said second plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits is associated with one of said first plurality of data subsets, and further wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said first plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• validity bit memory means coupled to said generator means for receiving and storing said third plurality of validity bits;
• and
• data reader means coupled to said validity bit memory means and said data memory means for reading each one of said stored third plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored second plurality of data subsets.

A data memory for providing data storage and selective retrieval thereof, comprising:

• generator means for receiving incoming data status information and in accordance therewith generating a first plurality of validity bits, wherein said incoming data status information represents how many data subsets constitute a second plurality of data subsets which contain valid data and are included in an incoming data signal having a third plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said first plurality of validity bits is associated with one of said third plurality of data subsets, and further wherein each one of said first plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said third plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• memory means coupled to said generator means for receiving and storing said first plurality of validity bits and for receiving and storing said incoming data signal;
• and
• data reader means coupled to said memory means for reading each one of said stored first plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored second plurality of data subsets.

A data memory for providing data storage and selective retrieval thereof, comprising:

• a first memory for receiving and storing incoming data having a first plurality of data subsets, wherein said first plurality of data subsets includes a second plurality of data subsets which contain valid data;
• a tag bit generator for receiving digital information indicating the beginning and number of said second plurality of data subsets within said incoming data and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of validity bits, wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits is associated with one of said first plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said first plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• a second memory coupled to said tag bit generator for receiving and storing said third plurality of validity bits;
• and
• a byte ordering state machine coupled to said first and second memories for reading each one of said stored third plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored second plurality of data subsets.

A data memory for providing data storage and selective retrieval thereof, comprising:

• a tag bit generator for receiving digital information indicating the beginning and number of a first plurality of data subsets and in accordance therewith generating a second plurality of validity bits, wherein said first plurality of data subsets contain valid data and are included in an incoming data signal having a third plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said second plurality of validity bits is associated with one of said third plurality of data subsets, and further wherein each one of said second plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said third plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• a memory coupled to said tag bit generator for receiving and storing said second plurality of validity bits and for receiving and storing said incoming data signal;
• and
• a byte ordering state machine coupled to said memory for reading each one of said stored second plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored first plurality of data subsets.

A method for storing and selectively retrieving data, comprising the steps of:

• receiving and storing incoming data having a first plurality of data subsets, wherein said first plurality of data subsets includes a second plurality of data subsets which contain valid data;
• receiving incoming data status information and in accordance therewith generating a third plurality of validity bits, wherein said incoming data status information represents how many data subsets constitute said second plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits is associated with one of said first plurality of data subsets, and further wherein each one of said third plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said first plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• storing said third plurality of validity bits;
• and
• reading each one of said stored third plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored second plurality of data subsets.

A method for storing and selectively retrieving data, comprising the steps of:

• receiving incoming data status information and in accordance therewith generating a first plurality of validity bits, wherein said incoming data status information represents how many data subsets constitute said second plurality of data subsets which contain valid data and are included in an incoming data signal having a third plurality of data subsets, and wherein each one of said first plurality of validity bits indicates whether its associated one of said third plurality of data subsets includes valid data;
• receiving and storing said first plurality of validity bits;
• receiving and storing said incoming data signal;
• and
• reading each one of said stored first plurality of validity bits and in accordance therewith outputting said stored second plurality of data subsets.