Patent ID: 6532503
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for detecting lost buffers in a descriptor based queue, the method comprising the steps of:providing a main data memory with a plurality of buffers for storing data packets; providing a plurality of descriptors, each of said plurality of descriptors pointing to one of said buffers; providing a plurality of transmit queues for transmitting data packets; providing a descriptor reference memory storing status information of said plurality of descriptors, said status information including active and free states of respective said descriptors; providing a descriptor free pool including a list of said descriptors having said status information of said free state; receiving a data packet; removing one of said descriptors from said descriptor free pool; setting said status information for said one descriptor to said active state; storing said data packet in said buffer of said main memory as pointed to by said one descriptor; calculating a count of a number of said descriptors in said descriptor free pool and a number of said descriptors having said status information of said active state in said descriptor reference memory; indicating a lost buffer if said count is not equal to a number of said plurality of descriptors.