Adaptive buffer allocation management

摘要

Aspects of adaptive buffer allocation management are described. In one embodiment of adaptive buffer allocation management, data is received by a network component for communication to a network address. While awaiting transfer to the network address, the data must be stored or distributed to a buffer. In one embodiment, the data is distributed evenly about banks of the buffer when an amount of utilization of the buffer is low. In another embodiment, the data is distributed to certain banks of the buffer when the amount of utilization of the buffer is high. In other aspects, the amount of utilization of the buffer is monitored while data is distributed to the banks of the buffer, and the manner of data distribution among the banks is adapted based on the utilization. According to aspects the of adaptive data distribution, a buffer of reduced size may be used.

主权项

1. A method of adaptive buffer allocation management, comprising:
receiving data for switching to a network address; determining, by a utilization monitoring circuit for a buffer that includes a plurality of banks, a capacity utilization amount of each bank of the plurality of banks; determining, by the utilization monitoring circuit, whether a capacity utilization amount of one of the banks has exceeded a first threshold by comparing each capacity utilization amount to the first threshold; distributing, in a low impact mode, the data to any bank of the plurality of banks of the buffer when the utilization monitoring circuit determines that each capacity utilization amount of the plurality of banks is below the first threshold; distributing, in a high impact mode, the data to specific banks of the buffer in which the capacity utilization amount is below the first threshold when the utilization monitoring circuit determines that the capacity utilization amount of one of the banks has exceeded the first threshold; performing a read operation on the buffer; determining, by the utilization monitoring circuit, whether the data was distributed in the high impact mode and whether the capacity utilization amount of the banks is below a second threshold; and enabling the low impact mode when the utilization monitoring circuit determines that the data was distributed in the high impact mode and that the capacity utilization amount of the banks is below the second threshold.