Patent ID: 6237029
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A network processor comprising:a computer system;an adaptable hardware device having an information input wherein the adaptable hardware device provides configurable logic;an input/output module coupled to the information input of the adaptable hardware device such that the input/output module is adapted to provide to the information input a data stream having a protocol format wherein the adaptable hardware device is adapted to provide the data stream to the configurable logic;a bus coupling the adaptable hardware device to the computer system wherein the computer system is adapted to communicate with the adaptable hardware device using the bus, wherein the computer system is adapted to configure the configurable logic of the adaptable hardware device into an analysis configuration, wherein the computer system is adapted to use the configurable logic in the analysis configuration to determine the protocol format of the data stream applied to the information input, wherein the computer system is adapted to configure the configurable logic of the adaptable hardware device into a processing configuration associated with the determined protocol format of the data stream and wherein the configurable logic in the processing configuration is adapted to process the data stream having the protocol format.