Linking frame data by inserting qualifiers in control blocks

Abstract

A method and system for reducing memory accesses by inserting qualifiers in control blocks. In one embodiment, a system comprises a processor configured to process frames of data. The processor may comprise a plurality of buffers configured to store frames of data where each frame of data may be associated with a frame control block. Each frame control block associated with a frame of data may be associated with one or more buffer control blocks. Each control block, e.g., frame control block, buffer control block, may comprise one or more qualifier fields that comprise information unrelated to the current control block. Instead, qualifiers may comprise information related to an another control block. The last frame control block in a queue as well as the last buffer control block associated with a frame control block may comprise fields with no information thereby reducing memory accesses to access information in those fields.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A method for reducing memory accesses by inserting qualifiers in control blocks comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a frame of data;    leasing one or more buffer control blocks;    storing said frame of data in one or more buffers associated with said one or more buffer control blocks in a data storage unit; and    leasing a frame control block associated with said one or more buffer control blocks;    wherein said frame control block comprise one or more qualifier fields, wherein said one or more qualifier fields in said frame control block comprise information related to one of said one or more buffers in said data storage unit.    
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising the step of: 
 enqueing said frame control block in a queue.    
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said one or more qualifier fields in said frame control block comprise information as to an address of one of said one or more buffer control blocks associated with current frame control block.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said one or more qualifier fields in said frame control block comprise information as to a starting byte position and to an ending byte position of data stored in said one of said one or more buffers storing said frame of data.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in claim  1   1 , wherein each of said one or more buffer control blocks comprise one or more qualifier fields, wherein said one or more qualifier fields in all but a last buffer control block of said one or more buffer control blocks associated with said frame control block comprise information as to a starting byte position and to an ending byte position of data stored in one of said one or more buffers associated with a next buffer control block.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said queue comprises a control block, wherein said control block in said queue comprises a head field, wherein said head field in said queue comprises an address of a first frame control block in said queue.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said head field in said queue further comprises a qualifier, wherein said qualifier comprises information as to a byte count length of one or more buffer control blocks associated with said first frame control block.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said control block of said queue further comprises a tail field, wherein said tail field comprises an address of a last frame control block in said queue.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said control block of said queue further comprises a count field, wherein said count field comprises a number of frame control blocks in said queue.