Patent ID: 6578105
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of managing a circular buffer comprising:writing data into said circular buffer at an address pointed to by a write pointer; writing into said address a first number that increments modulo a predetermined number greater than one each time said circular buffer is traversed by the write pointer; associating a second with a read pointer for said circular buffer, said second number incrementing modulo said predetermined value greater than one each time said circular buffer is traversed by the read pointer; comparing said second number with said first number when said data is read out of said buffer; and declaring a â€œno underrunâ€  condition when said first and second numbers are the same, a first type of underrun condition when the difference between the first and second numbers is equal to one and a second type of underrun condition when the difference between said first arid second numbers is greater than one.