Patent ID: 6317427
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of managing a buffer device to provide storage for a first buffering function and a second buffering function, the method comprising the steps of:assigning a first buffer area of the buffer device to the first buffering function, wherein the first buffer area is a circular buffer having a first pointer indicative of a last written location and a second pointer indicative of a last read location;assigning a second buffer area of the buffer device to the second buffering function;assigning a third buffer area of the buffer device to be shared between the first buffering function and the second buffering function;determining a need for more buffering space by the first buffering function by detecting that less than a predetermined amount of currently unused space is available within the first buffer area, wherein the step of detecting includes determining that less than the predetermined amount of space is available based upon the value of the second pointer; andassigning a first portion of the third buffer area to the first buffering function based upon the need for more buffering space by the first buffering function, wherein an amount of the third buffer area is assigned to the first buffer function in response to the value of the second pointer.