Patent ID: 7715410

Claim:
In a data-packet processor, a configurable queuing system for packet accounting during processing, the system comprising: a plurality of packet identifier queues arranged in one or more clusters; an identification mechanism for creating unique packet identifiers for arriving packets, wherein each created packet identifier includes two or more fields and exists independently of the plurality of packet identifier queues; insertion logic for inserting said created packet identifiers into the plurality of packet identifier queues and for determining into which packet identifier queue to insert a given packet identifier, wherein the insertion logic is configured to independently sort inserted packet identifiers within each packet identifier queue; and selection logic, for selecting said packet identifiers from the plurality of packet identifier queues to initiate processing of identified packets, downloading of completed packets, or for requeuing of the selected packet identifiers, wherein the system is configured to receive commands generated in response to packet instructions corresponding to said packet identifiers.