Patent ID: 6061767
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method in a network interface device for storing data associated with a data frame in a buffer memory comprising:reserving contiguous buffer memory location of the buffer memory for status information corresponding to reception of the data frame by the network interface device;writing the data frame in contiguous buffer memory locations following the reserved contiguous buffer memory locations; andwriting the status information generated during the reception of the data frame into the reserved continuous buffer memory locations following the data frame writing step,the reserving step includingreserving a first buffer memory locations for a first portion of the status information,reserving a second buffer memory location contiguous with and following the first buffer memory location for a second portion of the status information, andreserving a third buffer memory location contiguous with and following the second buffer memory location for tracking information specifying conditions of the stored data frame,the data frame writing step includingreceiving the data frame as a plurality of data words from a media access controller across a receive data bus, andstoring the data words in the respective continuous buffer memory locations, andthe status information writing step includingreceiving an end of frame signal from the media access controller indicating completed transfer of the data frame from the media access controller to the buffer memory,jumping to the first buffer memory location in response to the end of frame signal,receiving the status information from the media access controller across the receive data bus, andwriting the first and second portions of the status information into the first and second buffer memory locations, respectively.