System for performing input processing on a data packet

摘要

A system for performing an input processing function on a data packet. The system has an input port to which a first processor is coupled, which determines an attribute of the data packet, and a memory coupled to the first processor having a number of queues. The data packet is assigned to one of the queues based upon the attribute determined, which may be an indicator of a priority characterizing said data packet. Input processing is thus performed in a fixed amount of time, deferring variable latency operations until after the input memory.