Flexible scheme for buffer space allocation in networking devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for storing a data packet in a networking device. The networking device has a plurality of buffers. Each buffer has a respective size. A predetermined, ordered sequence of buffer sets is established. A buffer is allocated from the plurality of buffers. The allocated buffer is selected from the first set in the ordered sequence. If the packet size does not exceed the allocated buffer size, the entire packet is stored in the allocated buffer. Otherwise, a portion of the data packet sufficient to fill the allocated buffer is stored into the allocated buffer. If the packet size is greater than the size of the allocated buffer, further portions of the data packet are stored into respective further buffers. The further buffers are allocated from the plurality of sets of buffers. The further buffers are allocated so that the sequence of their respective sizes match the predetermined, ordered sequence of sets of buffers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.