Patent ID: 6377998
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An apparatus for filtering data frames of a data communications network, said apparatus comprising:a pipelined processor to filter the data frames; a filter memory coupled to said pipelined processor, said filter memory being configured to provide (i) a first set of filter variables to said pipelined processor for performing filtering operations on data frames received by the apparatus and (ii) a second set of filter variables to said pipelined processor for performing filtering operations on data frames being transmitted; a framing logic coupled to said pipelined processor, said framing logic being configured to control reception and transmission of the data frames; and a transmit circuit coupled to the framing logic and configured to transmit high priority frames prior to other data frames; a receive buffer configured to temporarily store data received from said plurality of protocol handlers; a plurality of protocol handlers, coupled to the pipelined processor and coupled to the transmit circuit to receive data frames from the pipelined processor and the transmit circuit and transmit the data frames; a multiplexer having an output coupled to said receive buffer and a plurality of inputs corresponding to said protocol handlers; and a transmit buffer configured to temporarily store data for transmission through at least one of said protocol handlers.