PPI allocation request and response for accessing a memory system

摘要

Within a networking device, packet portions from multiple PDRSDs (Packet Data Receiving and Splitting Devices) are loaded into a single memory, so that the packet portions can later be processed by a processing device. Rather than the PDRSDs managing and handling the storing of packet portions into the memory, a packet engine is provided. The PDRSDs use a PPI (Packet Portion Identifier) Addressing Mode (PAM) in communicating with the packet engine and in instructing the packet engine to store packet portions. A PDRSD requests a PPI from the packet engine in a PPI allocation request, and is allocated a PPI by the packet engine in a PPI allocation response, and then tags the packet portion to be written with the PPI and sends the packet portion and the PPI to the packet engine.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
(a) receiving an allocation request for a Packet Portion Identifier (PPI) via a bus and onto a memory system, wherein the memory system comprises a packet engine and a memory; (b) determining the PPI, wherein the PPI is associated with an unused block of memory in the memory of the memory system; (c) outputting the PPI from the memory system and onto the bus; (d) receiving packet data onto the memory system via the bus, wherein the PPI is received by the memory system along with packet data; and (e) using the PPI to write the packet data into the block of memory, wherein (a) through (e) are performed by the packet engine.