System and method for managing queue read and write pointers

Claim 1

In a data processing system, a queue management subsystem for transferring data between a system bus and a remote bus, comprising: a local data processor coupled to a local data bus and coupled to a memory address bus, for executing stored program instructions; a local addressable memory having an address input coupled to said memory address bus and a data port coupled to said local data bus, for storing data from said local data bus in reconfigurable queues at locations identified by addresses on said address bus; said local addressable memory having a total number of 2**T bytes, where T is a number of address lines to the local addressable memory, said local addressable memory partitioned for storing a total number of I reconfigurable queues, where I has a binary value represented by an integer from 1 to 2**N, each reconfigurable queue containing program instructions for controlling read and write operations, with an Ith queue having 2**P elements, each element therein containing 2**M bytes, where P=T-N-M; stored program instructions in said Ith queue of said local addressable memory for controlling read or write operations; a register file having an address input coupled to said memory address bus and a data port coupled to said local data bus, for storing queue pointer address values at locations identified by addresses on said address bus; said register file having 2**N registers, each said register including a queue read pointer field, a queue read pointer status field, a queue write pointer field, a queue write pointer status field and queue byte count field, with an Ith register in said register file having P bits in an Ith queue read pointer field as a read pointer value, P bits in an Ith queue write pointer field as a write pointer value and a value representing 2**M in an Ith byte count field; said local data processor reading said Ith queue write pointer value from said queue write pointer status field and constructing a memory address by concatenating the binary value of I with said Ith queue write pointer value, and accessing said memory with the resulting write address, to store 2**M bytes of data from said data bus into an element of said Ith queue in said memory; said local data processor adding said value of 2**M to said Ith queue write pointer value, forming a next Ith queue write pointer value; and a comparator means coupled to said queue read pointer field, for comparing the relative magnitude of a queue read pointer value in said Ith queue read pointer field with said next Ith queue write pointer value, indicating a valid status in said queue write pointer status field if the comparison is not equal and storing said next Ith queue write pointer value in said Ith write pointer field.