Patent ID: 7110415

Claim:
A method for sending a frame of data from a first channel to a second channel using at least one of m memory buffers for storing a frame, m being at least 2, in which n of the m buffers have an available status and p of the m buffers have an unavailable status, wherein m=n+p , the method comprising: reserving q of the n buffers having the available status to the first channel, wherein q≦n; when a frame is received from the first channel, storing the frame in i of the q buffers, wherein 1≦i≦q, and changing the status of the i buffers to unavailable; selectively assigning the frame to the second channel; wherein if the frame is assigned to the second channel, the i buffers storing the frame are assigned to the second channel, and when the frame is subsequently sent over the second channel, the status of the i buffers is changed to available; wherein if the frame is not assigned to the second channel, the frame is discarded and the status of the i buffers is changed to available; and wherein selectively assigning comprises selectively assigning the frame to the second channel based on a number of the buffers j assigned to the second channel and a number of the buffers h neither reserved nor assigned to any channel, wherein i+j≦m and h+q≦n.