Merging multiple network data flows

An interface device for a network, the interface device comprising:

• an assignment module configured to assign a first identifier to a first unit of information and a second identifier to a second unit of information, wherein the first and second identifiers identify flows associated with the first and second units of information, respectively;
• a segmentation module configured to segment each of the first and second units of information into a plurality of first and second subunits, respectively, append the first identifier for the first unit of information to the plurality of first subunits, and append the second identifier for the second unit of information to the plurality of second subunits;
• and
• an output queue configured to store the plurality of first and second subunits in a common output queue such that the plurality of first subunits for the first unit of information are not interleaved with the plurality of second subunits for the second unit of information,
• wherein at least one of the assignment module, the segmentation module, and the output queue is implemented at least partially in hardware.

A network interface device comprising:

• means for assigning a first identifier to a first unit of information and a second identifier to a second unit of information, wherein the first and second identifiers identify flows associated with the first and second units of information, respectively;
• means for segmenting each of the first and second units of information into a plurality of first and second subunits, respectively;
• means for appending the first identifier for the first unit of information to the plurality of first subunits, and the second identifier for the second unit of information to the plurality of second subunits;
• and
• means for storing the plurality of first and second subunits in a common output queue such that the plurality of first subunits for the first unit of information are not interleaved with the plurality of second subunits for the second unit of information,
• wherein at least one of the means for assigning, segmenting, appending, and storing is implemented at least partially in hardware.

A passive optical network (PON) interface device of a PON, the PON interface device comprising:

• an assignment module configured to assign a first identifier to a first unit of information and a second identifier to a second unit of information, wherein the first identifier identifies a first flow associated with the first unit of information, and the second identifier identifies a second flow associated with the second unit of information;
• a segmentation module configured to:
• segment the first unit of information into a plurality of first subunits, and the second unit of information into a plurality of second subunits;
• and
• append the first identifier to the plurality of first subunits, and the second identifier to the plurality of second subunits;
• and
• an output queue configured to store the plurality of first and second subunits such that the plurality of first subunits for the first unit of information are not interleaved with the plurality of second subunits for the second unit of information,
• wherein at least one of the assignment module, the segmentation module, and the output queue is implemented at least partially in hardware.

A passive optical network (PON) interface device comprising:

• means for assigning a first identifier to a first unit of information and a second identifier to a second unit of information, wherein the first identifier identifies a first flow associated with the first unit of information, and the second identifier identifies a second flow associated with the second unit of information;
• means for segmenting the first unit of information into a plurality of first subunits, and the second unit of information into a plurality of second subunits;
• means for appending the first identifier for the first unit of information to the plurality of first subunits, and the second identifier for the second unit of information to the plurality of second units;
• and
• means for storing the plurality of first and second subunits in a common output queue such that the plurality of first subunits for the first unit of information are not interleaved with the plurality of second subunits for the second unit of information,
• wherein at least one of the means for assigning, segmenting, appending, and storing is implemented at least partially in hardware.