Patent ID: 6947415
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for processing packets in a communications device, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving a packet from a packet buffer memory by a packet processing unit, wherein the packet processing unit is one of a plurality of packet processing units, wherein the packet buffer memory is one of a plurality of packet buffer memories, and wherein each packet buffer memory is connected with one of the plurality of packet processing units; determining a packet type for the packet; forwarding the packet to a Routing Table Processing Unit if the packet type is determined to be a routing information packet; retrieving forwarding information from a routing table if the packet is determined not to be a routing information packet, wherein the routing table is stored in a second shared memory connected to the plurality of packet processing units; updating the packet with the retrieved forwarding information; and forwarding the updated packet.