Patent ID: 8009689

Claim:
A method for sending a frame of data from a first channel to a second channel, comprising: reserving q of n available buffers of m total buffers to the first channel; storing a frame that is received from the first channel in i of the q buffers and changing the status of the i buffers to unavailable; selectively assigning the frame to the second channel based on j buffers of the m total buffers assigned to the second channel and h buffers of the m total buffers neither reserved nor assigned to any channel, wherein i+j≦m and h+q≦n; assigning the i buffers storing the frame to the second channel if the frame is assigned to the second channel; changing the status of the i buffers to available if the frame is subsequently sent over the second channel; and discarding the frame and changing the status of the i buffers to available if the frame is not assigned to the second channel, wherein q, n, m, j, i, and h are integers.