Patent ID: 7155516

Claim:
A system for managing packets incoming to a data router comprising: a local packet memory (LPM) mapped into pre-configured memory units, 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 said LPM, to determine a size of said packets to be stored in said LPM, and for determining whether said packets can be stored in said LPM, wherein in determining whether said packets can be stored in said LPM, the first storage system is configured to consider unallocated portions of the local packet memory in increments of one or more fixed sizes; and a second storage system coupled to said first storage system, for receiving an indication from said first storage system when it cannot store said packets in said LPM, and for storing said packets in said LPM; wherein said first storage system attempts to store all said packets in said LPM, and for those packets that are not storable within said LPM, relinquishes control to said second system, which stores said packets in said LPM; and wherein said system is configured to adjust said one or more fixed sizes to include more or fewer fixed size increments which may be considered by the first storage system when the first storage system considers whether said packets can be stored in the LPM.