Patent ID: 8214553
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An input/output device for simultaneously supporting multiple hosts and multiple functions, the input/output device comprising: a communication port through which the input/output device receives communications for the multiple hosts and multiple functions; and a plurality of host assemblies, each host assembly supporting a single host and comprising: a buffer configured to store: packets addressed to a plurality of functions hosted by the single host; and for each of the packets, a corresponding classification control header comprising classification control information; and an egress manager comprising; multiple DMA (Direct Memory Access) contexts configured to generate transfer control information for facilitating transfer of the packets to the plurality of functions; and a pipeline configured to speculatively receive the packets from the buffer while said DMA contexts generate said transfer control information, wherein said pipeline comprises a control pipe configured to receive the transfer control information.