# US 9,521,007 B2 · Multi-level replication counter storage device for multicast packet processing and related method for managing multicast packet processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,007 B2 - Document ID: US9521007B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/243,888 - Filed: 2014-04-03 - Published: 2014-10-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-25 - Assignees: Mediatek Inc. - Applicants: Mediatek Inc. - Inventors: Chien-Hsiung Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521007B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/1881: {with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management} - H04L 12/18: for broadcast or conference {, e.g. multicast} - H04L 12/1845: {broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast (protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A multi-level replication counter storage device for multicast packet processing includes a first-level storage device and a second-level storage device. The first-level storage device stores a plurality of first count values associated with a same cell data of a first multicast packet required to be broadcasted to a plurality of multicast targets, wherein a sum of the stored first count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the first multicast packet is not broadcasted yet. The second-level storage device stores a second count value which is adjusted based on the first count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the first multicast packet is accomplished. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-level replication counter storage device for multicast packet processing, comprising: a first-level storage device, configured to store a plurality of first count values associated with a same cell data of a first multicast packet required to be broadcasted to a plurality of multicast targets, wherein a sum of the stored first count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the first multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; and a second-level storage device, configured to store a second count value which is adjusted based on the first count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the first multicast packet is accomplished; wherein the first-level storage device accomplishes one de-queue operation by updating a first count value in K clock cycles, the second-level storage device accomplishes one de-queue operation by updating the second count value in L clock cycles, K and L are positive integers, and K>L. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 1, wherein the first-level storage device comprises: a plurality of storage modules, wherein the first count values are stored in the storage modules, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 2, wherein each of the storage modules has a plurality of storage spaces, and the first count values are stored in co-located storage spaces in the storage modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 2, wherein the storage modules correspond to a plurality of port groups, respectively; each of the multicast targets is coupled to one port of the port groups; and a first count value stored into a storage module by an en-queue operation is set by a number of multicast targets belonging to a port group associated with the storage module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 2, wherein the storage modules correspond to a plurality of port groups, respectively; each of the multicast targets is coupled to one port of the port groups; and a first count value stored in a storage module is adjusted by a de-queue operation when the same cell data of the first multicast packet is broadcasted through one port of a port group associated with the storage module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 2, wherein the second count value stored into the second-level storage device by an en-queue operation is set by a number of the storage modules. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 2, wherein the second count value stored in the second-level storage device is adjusted by at least one de-queue operation triggered due to at least one first count value reaching a predetermined value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 1, wherein multiple multicast packets, including the first multicast packet and a second multicast packet, are buffered in a single clock cycle; the first-level storage device is further configured to store a plurality of third count values associated with a same cell data of the second multicast packet required to be broadcasted to the multicast targets; a sum of the stored third count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the second multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; and the second-level storage device is further configured to store a fourth count value which is adjusted based on the third count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the second multicast packet is accomplished. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multi-level replication counter storage device of claim 1, wherein the first-level storage device is a memory device, and the second-level storage device is a flip-flop array. ### Claim 10 A method for managing multicast packet processing, comprising: storing a plurality of first count values associated with a same cell data of a first multicast packet required to be broadcasted to a plurality of multicast targets in a first-level storage device, wherein a sum of the stored first count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the first multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; storing a second count value in a second-level storage device, wherein the stored second count value is adjusted based on the first count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the first multicast packet is accomplished; utilizing the first-level storage device to accomplish one de-queue operation by updating a first count value in K clock cycles; and utilizing the second-level storage device to accomplish one de-queue operation by updating the second count value in L clock cycles; wherein K and L are positive integers, and K>L. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first-level storage device comprises a plurality of storage modules; and the step of storing the first count values comprises: storing the first count values in the storage modules, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each of the storage modules has a plurality of storage spaces, and the step of storing the first count values in the storage modules comprises: storing the first count values in co-located storage spaces in the storage modules. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the storage modules correspond to a plurality of port groups, respectively; each of the multicast targets is coupled to one port of the port groups; and the method further comprising: when an en-queue operation is performed upon a storage module, setting a first count value stored into the storage module by a number of multicast targets belonging to a port group associated with the storage module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the storage modules correspond to a plurality of port groups, respectively; each of the multicast targets is coupled to one port of the port groups; and the method further comprises: when the same cell data of the first multicast packet is broadcasted through one port of a port group associated with a storage module, performing a de-queue operation upon the storage module to adjust a first count value stored in the storage module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: when an en-queue operation is performed upon the second-level storage device, setting the second count value stored into the second-level storage device by a number of the storage modules. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: when at least one de-queue operation is triggered due to at least one first count value reaching a predetermined value, adjusting the second count value stored in the second-level storage device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein multiple multicast packets, including the first multicast packet and a second multicast packet, are buffered in a single clock cycle; and the method further comprises: storing a plurality of third count values associated with a same cell data of the second multicast packet required to be broadcasted to the multicast targets in the first-level storage device, wherein a sum of the stored third count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the second multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; and storing a fourth count value in the second-level storage device, wherein the fourth count value is adjusted based on the third count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the second multicast packet is accomplished. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first-level storage device is a memory device, and the second-level storage device is a flip-flop array. ### Claim 19 A multi-level replication counter storage device for multicast packet processing, comprising: a first-level storage device, configured to store a plurality of first count values associated with a same cell data of a first multicast packet required to be broadcasted to a plurality of multicast targets, wherein a sum of the stored first count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the first multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; and a second-level storage device, configured to store a second count value which is adjusted based on the first count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the first multicast packet is accomplished; wherein multiple multicast packets, including the first multicast packet and a second multicast packet, are buffered in a single clock cycle; the first-level storage device is further configured to store a plurality of third count values associated with a same cell data of the second multicast packet required to be broadcasted to the multicast targets; a sum of the stored third count values is equal to a number of multicast targets to which the same cell data of the second multicast packet is not broadcasted yet; and the second-level storage device is further configured to store a fourth count value which is adjusted based on the third count values to indicate whether a multicast operation of the same cell data of the second multicast packet is accomplished.