High-speed packet memory

A high speed packet memory having a write port and a read port, comprising:

• a plurality of N memory modules for storing fixed size cells, which are segments of a variable size packet divided into X cells, the X cells being grouped into ┌X/N┐ groups of cells;
• a read-write control block comprising a means for receiving cells from the write port and storing each cell, which belongs to the same group, in a selected different one of the N memory modules at the same memory address (the group address);
• a multi-cell pointer (MCP) storage for storing an MCP for said group of cells (the associated MCP) at an MCP address, the MCP having N memory module identifiers to record the order in which cells of said group of cells are stored in the N memory modules;
• and
• the MCP address being the same as the group address.

A method for storing and retrieving a variable size packet in a memory having N memory modules, comprising the steps of:

• (a) dividing the variable size packet into X fixed size cells;
• (b) grouping the X cells into ┌X/N┐ groups of cells;
• (c) storing each cell, which belongs to the same group of cells, in a selected different one of the N memory modules at the same memory address (the group address);
• (d) creating a multi-cell pointer (MCP) having N memory module identifiers, the N memory module identifiers being recorded in the order in which the cells of the same group are stored in the N memory modules;
• (e) storing the MCP in an MCP storage at an MCP address, the MCP address being the same as the group address;
• and
• (f) repeating the steps (c) to (e) if required.