Patent ID: 7925021

Claim:
A messaging system to convey messages between a first processor and a second processor, the messaging system comprising: a first mailbox storage assigned to receive a message for the first processor from the second processor, where the first processor is an upper media-access-control processor and the second processor is a lower media-access-control processor of the messaging system; a first lock indicator having a first state to indicate that the first mailbox storage can receive a message and a second state to indicate that the first mailbox storage cannot receive a message; a second mailbox storage assigned to receive a message for the second processor from the first processor; a second lock indicator having a first state to indicate that the second mailbox storage can receive a message and a second state to indicate that the second mailbox storage cannot receive a message; wherein the first lock indicator is changed to its second state when a message is placed in the first mailbox storage; wherein the second lock indicator is changed to its second state when a message is placed in the second mailbox storage; wherein the first lock indicator is changed to its first state in response to its contents being read by the first processor; and wherein the second lock indicator is changed to its first state in response to its contents being read by the second processor.