Method and system for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves multiple output links

A system for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• a shared memory buffer, that serves a plurality of output links, for storing packets that are intended for said output links;
• a buffer controller connected to manage packets stored within said shared memory buffer, said buffer controller including means for:
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• using said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an output link that is available for packet transmission;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, said identified oldest packet that is intended for an available output link even if said identified oldest packet is preceded by an older packet that is intended for an unavailable output link;
• wherein said buffer controller further includes means for establishing an output link identifier (ID) for each stored packet that identifies the intended output link of the respective packet.

A method for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• writing packets into said shared memory buffer;
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the availability of each of said plurality of output links;
• starting at the identified oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer, examining said packets in said output buffer in the order that is dictated by said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, the packet that is identified as the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• and
• setting an output link identifier (ID) for each packet that identifies the intended output link of the respective packet.

A system for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• a shared memory buffer, that serves a plurality of output links, for storing packets intended for said output links:
• a buffer controller connected to manage packets stored within said shared memory buffer, said buffer controller including means for:
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the availability of each of said plurality of output links;
• starting at the identified oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer, examining said packets in said output buffer in the order that is dictated by said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, the packet that is identified as the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• wherein said buffer controller further includes means for setting an output link identifier (ID) for each packet that identifies the intended output link of the respective packet.

A method for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• writing packets into said shared memory buffer;
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• using said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an output link that is available for packet transmission;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, said identified oldest packet that is intended for an available output link even if said identified oldest packet is preceded by an older packet that is intended for an unavailable output link;
• wherein linking said packets into a linked list includes establishing a NEXT pointer for each packet that identifies the next packet on the linked list.

A system for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• a shared memory buffer, that serves a plurality of output links, for storing packets that are intended for said output links;
• a buffer controller connected to manage packets stored within said shared memory buffer, said buffer controller including means for:
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• using said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an output link that is available for packet transmission;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, said identified oldest packet that is intended for an available output link even if said identified oldest packet is preceded by an older packet that is intended for an unavailable output link;
• wherein linking said packets into a linked list includes establishing a NEXT pointer for each stored packet that identifies the next packet on the linked list.

A method for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• writing packets into said shared memory buffer;
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the availability of each of said plurality of output links;
• starting at the identified oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer, examining said packets in said output buffer in the order that is dictated by said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, the packet that is identified as the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• wherein linking said packets includes setting a NEXT pointer for each packet that identifies the next packet on said linked list.

A system for managing packets in a shared memory buffer that serves a plurality of output links comprising:

• a shared memory buffer, that serves a plurality of output links, for storing packets intended for said output links:
• a buffer controller connected to manage packets stored within said shared memory buffer, said buffer controller including means for:
• linking said packets into a linked list in the order that said packets are written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer;
• identifying the availability of each of said plurality of output links;
• starting at the identified oldest packet that is written into said shared memory buffer, examining said packets in said output buffer in the order that is dictated by said linked list to identify the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• and
• dispatching, to the respective available output link, the packet that is identified as the oldest packet that is intended for an available output link;
• wherein linking said packets includes setting a NEXT pointer for each packet that identifies the next packet on said linked list.