Patent ID: 7307998
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An interface in which packets are transferred between a network medium and a host system, comprising: a first port adapted to be coupled to the network medium; a second port adapted to be coupled to the host system; buffer memory, coupled to the first and second ports, storing packets in transit between the first and second ports; a receive buffer descriptor cache storing a plurality of sets of receive buffer descriptors, each set corresponding with a corresponding set of receive buffers, the sets of receive buffers including buffers allocated for storage of received packets, the receive buffer descriptors in a first one of said sets of receive buffer descriptors corresponding buffers having a buffer size specified according to a maximum packet size parameter, and the receive buffer descriptors in a second one of said sets of receive buffer descriptors corresponding buffers having a buffer size specified according to an intermediate packet size parameter smaller than said maximum; logic, coupled with the buffer memory, to assign packets stored in the buffer memory to a receive buffer descriptor in one of said sets of receive buffer descriptors according to packet size; and upload logic coupled to the buffer memory to manage uploading packets using the assigned receive buffer descriptors.