Patent ID: 6621822
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
Data stream transfer apparatus for receiving a data stream of data cells carrying real-time-sensitive information and transmitting data frames at predetermined time intervals, each data frame comprising data from one or more data cells, the apparatus comprising:a receiving apparatus to receive the data cells from a transmission medium at variable time intervals and store them in a buffer memory; a data transfer interface to transfer data frames out of the apparatus at the predetermined time intervals and, upon transferring a data frame, to generate an indication to a central processing unit of the apparatus that the data frame has been transferred; and a memory access unit to receive data defining a location in the buffer memory, access the buffer memory to retrieve a data frame from that location and transmit that data frame to the data transfer interface; wherein the central processing unit, upon receiving the indication from the data transfer interface, executes instructions to determine a time for transfer of a subsequent data frame, and upon reaching that time transmits to the memory access unit the location of the subsequent frame in the buffer memory.