Method and apparatus for managing bin chains in a memory

A multiport switch configured for controlling communication of data frames between stations comprising:

• a table for storing address information as address entries in a plurality of bins, the address entries containing a searchable address and data forwarding information;
• a control device configured to receive information from a data frame and search at least one of the plurality of bins for the data forwarding information based on the received information;
• a first programmable register configured to store the location of an unused address entry in the table;
• and
• a second programmable register configured to control access to the plurality of bins, wherein the control device is enabled to modify information in one of the plurality of bins based on the status of the first and second programmable registers.

In a multiport switch that controls communication of data frames between stations, the multiport switch including an address table for storing address information as address entries in a plurality of bins, the address entries containing a searchable address and data forwarding information, a method of managing the address table comprising:

• receiving information from a data frame;
• searching at least one of the plurality of bins for the data forwarding information based on the received information;
• searching at least one of the plurality of bins for a first address entry having a source address of the data frame and a receive port number indicating the port on which the data frame was received;
• adding an address entry to one of the plurality of bins based on the results of the search;
• reading the contents of a first programmable register, wherein the contents identify a free address entry in the address table;
• and
• writing a new address entry to a particular bin in the table at an address designated by the first programmable register.

In a multiport switch that controls communication of data frames between stations, the multiport switch including an address table for storing address information as address entries in a plurality of bins, the address entries containing a searchable address and data forwarding information, a method of managing the address table comprising:

• receiving information from a data frame;
• searching at least one of the plurality of bins for the data forwarding information based on the received information;
• reading the contents of a first programmable register and a second programmable register;
• and
• modifying the address information in one of the plurality of bins based on the contents of the first and second programmable registers.

A network switching system controlling communication of data frames between stations, comprising:

• a receive device for receiving data frames;
• a table for storing address information as address entries in a plurality of bins, the address entries containing a searchable address and data frame forwarding information;
• a control device configured to receive information from the receive device and search at least one of the bins for the data frame forwarding information;
• a first programmable register configured to store the location of a free address entry in the table and to control access to the table by the control device;
• and
• a second programmable register configured to control access to the plurality of bins by the control device, wherein the control device is further configured to:
• modify address entries in a particular bin based on the results of the search and the status of both the first and second programmable registers.