Patent ID: 7237031
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for performing protocol processing, comprising: a control memory configured to store protocol processing data related to multiple communication connections, including a first communication connection comprising a first transmit flow and a first receive flow; a hardware protocol processor; a pre-processing module configured to receive the stored protocol processing data from the control memory and provide the received protocol processing data to the protocol processor; a post-processing module configured to receive updated protocol processing data from the protocol processor and update the control memory; and a protocol processing cache local to the hardware protocol processor and separate from the control memory, wherein the cache is configured to store a subset of said protocol Processing data stored in the control memory, including; a header generator configured to generate a protocol header for the outbound packet to facilitate transmission of the outbound packet in the first transmit flow; wherein said subset of protocol processing data is provided to said header generator by said protocol processing cache and not said control memory.