Patent ID: 7844758

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a buffer including a plurality of entries, wherein each of said entries is configured to store data corresponding to a request received from a requestor; and circuitry coupled to said buffer, wherein said circuitry is configured to: allot a first number of said entries to a first requestor and a second number of said entries to a second requestor, wherein said first number of entries and second number of entries are of a first type; allot a third number of said entries to said first requestor and a fourth number of said entries to said second requestor, wherein said third and fourth number of entries are of a second type; and allocate an entry of said entries in response to a received request; wherein said entries of said first type comprise hard entries which are always re-allotted to the requesting entity which owns the hard entry, and wherein said entries of said second type comprise free entries which are not owned by a particular entity; wherein when a given requestor of the first requestor and the second requestor has both hard entries and free entries available, when making a request for allocation of an entry the given requestor is configured to: choose whether a hard entry or a free entry is allocated responsive to a request; and convey a request which includes an indication as to whether a hard entry or a free entry is allocated.