Single chip network hub with dynamic window filter

摘要

A single chip hub for an electronic communication network comprises a packet memory for storing data packets, a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor for processing the packets, and a plurality of media access interfaces. A Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller transfers packets transferring packets between the packet memory and the interfaces. A packet attribute memory stores attributes of the data packets, and an attribute processor performs a non-linear hashing algorithm on an address of a packet being processed for accessing a corresponding attribute of said packet in the packet attribute memory. An address window filter identifies the address of a packet being processed by examining only a predetermined portion of said address, and can comprise a dynamic window filter or a static window filter.