Patent ID: 7877481

Claim:
A system for managing packets incoming to a data router comprising: a local packet memory (LPM) configured to store packets for processing; an external packet memory (EPM) for storing overflow data which is not storable by said LPM; a first storage system coupled to the LPM and to a second storage system; wherein the first storage system is configured to: determine whether said packets can be stored in the LPM; if a given packet is determined not to be storable within the LPM: relinquish packet management to the second storage system; set a first lock; and set a second lock corresponding to an originating device of the given packet; and wherein the second storage system is configured to: receive an indication from the first storage system that the given packet is not storable in the LPM; in response to receiving the indication, manage the given packet; and wherein setting the first lock causes the system to buffer additional incoming packets until the system completes a first action in response to the determination that the given packet is not storable within the LPM and wherein setting the second lock causes the system to prevent packet overflow from initiating for subsequent packets from the same originating device before receiving an acknowledgement.