Single chip network router

A single chip router for a multiplex communication network, comprising:

• a packet memory for storing data packets;
• a processor for processing said packets including converting said packets between a first protocol and a second protocol;
• a first protocol interface unit;
• a second protocol interface unit;
• a memory controller for transferring packets in said first and second protocols between the processor and the memory, for transferring packets in said first protocol between the memory and the first protocol interface unit, and for transferring packets in said second protocol between the memory and the second protocol interface unit;
• and
• an address window filter for identifying the address of a packet being converted by examining only a predetermined portion of said address;
• in which
• the address window filter comprises a dynamic window filter;
• and
• the dynamic window filter comprises means for determining said predetermined portion of said address for examination by determining a common address range of addresses of packets processed by the router.

A router, comprising:

• a processor for processing data packets;
• a packet attribute memory for storing attributes of said data packets;
• an attribute processor for performing a non-linear algorithm on a source or destination address of a packet being processed for accessing a corresponding attribute of said packet being processed in the packet attribute memory;
• and
• an address window filter for identifying said address of said packet being processed by examining only a predetermined portion of said address;
• the address window including a dynamic window filter.

A router, comprising:

• a processor for processing data packets;
• a packet attribute memory for storing attributes of said data packets;
• an attribute processor for performing a non-linear algorithm on an address of a packet being processed for accessing a corresponding attribute of said packet being processed in the packet attribute memory;
• and
• an address window filter for identifying said address of said packet being processed by examining only a predetermined portion of said address;
• in which
• the address window filter comprises a dynamic window filter;
• and
• the dynamic window filter comprises means for determining said predetermined portion of said address for examination by determining a common address range of addresses of packets processed by the router.