Patent ID: 9407461
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method for processing network packets in a network device, the method comprising: receiving a network packet at an ingress port of the network device; before the network packet has been completely received at the ingress port, generating, at the network device, a first data structure representing the network packet based on a received first portion of the network packet; processing the first data structure at a packet processor of the network device, wherein processing the first data structure includes making a forwarding decision for the network packet; before the network packet has been completely received at the ingress port, generating, at the network device, a second data structure representing the network packet; and after the network packet has been completely received at the ingress port, performing at least one or more non-forwarding operations with respect to the network packet using at least the second data structure.