Patent ID: 6862630
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A frame processing unit for transmitting data frames of varying priorities on a network medium comprising: a) a frame buffer management circuit receiving data frames and storing data frames in a buffer memory; b) a register storing data representing the existence of data frames of a designated priority in the buffer memory; c) a priority resolution circuit, reading the register to determine a highest priority data frame available for transmission; and d) a frame transmission circuit receiving an address of the highest priority data frame from the priority resolution circuit, receiving a signal from a media access controller indicating that the data frame may be transmitted, retrieving the data frame from the buffer memory corresponding to the address, and making the data frame available to the media access controller for transmitting to the network medium, wherein the priority resolution circuit continually retrieves data from the register to determine a highest priority data frame in the buffer memory and replaces the address previously provided to the frame transmission circuit if a higher priority frame becomes available.