Media access control architectures and network management systems
DCFirst Claim
1. A media access controller, comprising:
- a transmit media access controller configured to process out-going packet data that is received from an upper layer for transmission to a physical layer, at least part of the processing being alterable by control information received while the out-going packet data is being processed;
a receive media access controller configured to process in-coming packet data that is received from the physical layer for transmission to the upper layer, at least part of the processing being alterable by control information received while the in-coming packet data is being processed;
a transmit multi-packet queue device for receiving the out-going packet data from the upper layer before being passed to the transmit media access controller;
a receive multi-packet queue device for receiving the in-coming packet data that is received by the receive media access controller; and
a media access controller manager interfacing with the transmit and receive media access controllers, the media access controller manager being responsible for managing the flow of packet data through the transmit and receive multi-packet queue devices.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a media access controller for transferring data along a computer network. The media access controller includes a transmit media access controller that is configured to process out-going packet data received from an upper layer for transmission to a physical layer. A receive media access controller that is configured to process in-coming packet data received from the physical layer for transmission to the upper layer. A transmit multi-packet queue FIFO for receiving the out-going packet data from the upper layer before being passed to the transmit media access controller. A receive multi-packet queue FIFO for receiving the in-coming packet data that is received by the receive media access controller. The media access controller further including a media access controller manager interfacing with the transmit and receive media access controllers. The media access controller manager being responsible for managing the flow of packet data through the transmit and receive multi-packet queue FIFOs.
175 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A media access controller, comprising:
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a transmit media access controller configured to process out-going packet data that is received from an upper layer for transmission to a physical layer, at least part of the processing being alterable by control information received while the out-going packet data is being processed; a receive media access controller configured to process in-coming packet data that is received from the physical layer for transmission to the upper layer, at least part of the processing being alterable by control information received while the in-coming packet data is being processed; a transmit multi-packet queue device for receiving the out-going packet data from the upper layer before being passed to the transmit media access controller; a receive multi-packet queue device for receiving the in-coming packet data that is received by the receive media access controller; and a media access controller manager interfacing with the transmit and receive media access controllers, the media access controller manager being responsible for managing the flow of packet data through the transmit and receive multi-packet queue devices.
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2. A media access controller comprising:
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a transmit media access controller configured to process out-going packet data that is received from an upper layer for transmission to a physical layer; a receive media access controller configured to process in-coming packet data that is received from the physical layer for transmission to the upper layer; a transmit multi-packet queue device for receiving the out-going packet data from the upper layer before being passed to the transmit media access controller; a receive multi-packet queue device for receiving the in-coming packet data that is received by the receive media access controller; a media access controller manager interfacing with the transmit and receive media access controllers, the media access controller manager being responsible for managing the flow of packet data through the transmit and receive multi-packet queue devices; and a parallel event processor for processing management information and control information in parallel with the processing of packet data through the transmit media access controller and the receive media access controller. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A network interface system comprising:
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a media access controller for processing transmit data received an upper layer and transmitting the processed transmit data to a lower layer, processing receive data received from the lower layer and transmitting the processed receive data to the upper layer, the media access controller being configured to monitor the flow of data between the upper and lower layers; a data bus for communicating data and data control information between the upper layer and the media access controller; and a management control bus for communicating management control information between the upper layer and the media access controller, the management control bus communicating independently of the data bus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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14. A network interface system, comprising:
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a media access controller for processing transmit data received an upper layer and transmitting the processed transmit data to a lower layer, processing receive data received from the lower layer and transmitting the processed receive data to the upper layer, the media access controller being configured to monitor the flow of data between the upper and lower layers; a data bus for communicating data and data control information between the upper layer and the media access controller; a management control bus for communicating management control information between the upper layer and the media access controller, the management control bus being independent of the data bus; a transmit controller for processing the transmit data to be transferred to the lower layer, the processing including encapsulating the transmit data with at least one header; a receive controller for processing the receive data communicated from the lower layer that is connected to a physical network, the processing including stripping at least one header and communicating the receive data to the upper layer; and a parallel event processor coupled to the control bus for processing management tasks. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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24. A method for making a media access controller for processing data transmit requests, data receive requests and monitoring data flow through the media access controller, the media access controller being configured to communicate with an upper layer and a lower layer, the method comprising:
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integrating a first bus for transferring data into and out of the media access controller; and integrating a second bus for communicating management control requests to the media access controller while the transferring of data is in progress to thereby alter such transferring of data, the second bus being coupled to a parallel events processor containing a microprocessor for filtering selected data that is being transferred through the first bus.
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25. A method for making a media access controller for processing data transmit requests, data receive requests and monitoring data flow through the media access controller, the media access controller being configured to communicate with an upper layer and a lower layer, the method comprising
integrating a first bus for transferring data into and out of the media access controller; -
integrating a second bus for communicating management control requests to the media access controller while the transferring of data is in progress the second bus being coupled to a parallel events processor containing a microprocessor for filtering selected data that is being transferred through the first bus; and integrating a transmit controller and a receive controller to be in communication with the first bus; integrating a management processor for controlling the operations of the transmit controller and the receive controller. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification