Patent ID: 6950886
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of upstream buffers each configured to store a plurality of upstream packets, wherein each of said plurality of upstream packets contains an associated identifier indicative of a source of each of said plurality of upstream packets; and a router coupled to each of said plurality of upstream buffers and configured to receive said plurality of packets, and to route each of said plurality of packets to a given one of said upstream buffers, depending upon the associated identifier, wherein a given buffer of said plurality of upstream buffers stores only packets having a same source; a plurality of upstream reorder logic circuits, wherein each one of said plurality of upstream reorder logic circuits is coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of upstream buffers and is configured to determine a correct order of transmitting each of said packets stored in said corresponding one of said plurality of upstream buffers based on a set of predetermined criteria, wherein each of said plurality of upstream reorder logic circuits is further configured to reorder given ones of said packets stored in said corresponding one of said plurality of upstream buffers in response to determining that said order of transmitting is not correct; a transmitter unit coupled to said plurality of upstream reorder logic circuits and configured to transmit one packet of said plurality of upstream packets stored within said plurality of upstream buffers dependent upon an order of receipt within said plurality of upstream buffers.