Patent ID: 7536488

Claim:
A buffer management method for managing a buffer memory having a free list comprising a plurality of buffer registers, each of buffer registers having only one pointer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) allocating a list for use from the free list, wherein said list for use consists of a plurality of buffer registers; (b) linking a first buffer register of said list for use, the pointer of which points to a last buffer register of said list for use; (c) linking the last buffer register of said list for use, the pointer of which points to a second buffer register of said list for use; (d) linking the second buffer register of said list for use, the pointer of which points to the third buffer register of said list for use; and (e) cyclically repeating linking the buffer register of said list for use, in the order of linking the third buffer register of said list for use, the pointer of which points to a next buffer resister of said list for use and linking the next buffer register of said list for use, the pointer of which points to a buffer resister of said list for use next to the next buffer register of said list for use until a second-to-last buffer resister of said list for use is linked with the last buffer register of said list for use.