US6629195B2
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Implementing semaphores in a content addressable memory
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 2001-06-26
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Granted: 2003-09-30
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Expires: 2021-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A network processor application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) includes a plurality of processor devices each adapted to generate a semaphore operation request. A request arbiter, having connections to the plurality of processor devices, is provided to determine the semaphore operation request from one of the plurality of processor devices to be forwarded. A content addressable memory (CAM) is provided to store a data set. A CAM control state machine interconnects the request arbiter and the CAM, and implements a semaphore operation requested by one of the plurality of processor devices to the content addressable memory to access the data set.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacob J. Schroeder
- 👤 Magnussen Andreas
- 👤 Jens K. Andreassen
- 👤 Steen V. Kock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of implementing semaphores in a content addressable memory (CAM), comprising: receiving data to be processed; searching for an address of a data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data; executing a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM; determining whether the set operation was successful; waiting a period of time if the set operation failed; processing the received data utilizing the data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data if the set operation was successful; and executing a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM after processing the received data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of implementing semaphores in a content addressable memory (CAM), comprising: receiving data to be processed; searching for an address of a data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data; executing a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM; determining whether the set operation was successful; waiting a period of time if the set operation failed; processing the received data utilizing the data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data if the set operation was successful; and executing a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM after processing the received data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processing includes reading from or writing to the data set stored in the CAM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including: executing a second test and set operation on the semaphore associated with the data set stored in the CAM after waiting the period of time; determining whether the second set operation was successful; and waiting a second period of time if the second set operation failed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data is a frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data set is a transmission control block (TCB) record.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A processor device, comprising: a machine-readable medium; and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable medium, having instructions to receive data to be processed, search for an address of a data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data, execute a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM, determine whether the set operation was successful, wait a period of time if the set operation failed, process the received data utilizing the data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data if the set operation was successful, and execute a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM after the received data has been processed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A processor device, comprising: a machine-readable medium; and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable medium, having instructions to receive data to be processed, search for an address of a data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data, execute a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM, determine whether the set operation was successful, wait a period of time if the set operation failed, process the received data utilizing the data set stored in the CAM corresponding to the received data if the set operation was successful, and execute a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the data set in the CAM after the received data has been processed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The processor device according to claim 6 , wherein the instructions to process include instructions to read from or write to the data set stored in the CAM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The processor device according to claim 6 , wherein the machine-readable program code further includes instructions to: execute a second test and set operation on the semaphore associated with the data set stored in the CAM after waiting the period of time; determine whether the second set operation was successful; and wait a second period of time if the second set operation failed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The processor device according to claim 6 , wherein the data is a frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The processor device according to claim 6 , wherein the data set is a transmission control block (TCB) record.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of operating a network processor device, comprising: receiving a frame; searching for an address of a transmission control block (TCB) record stored in a content addressable memory (CAM) corresponding to the frame; executing a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM; determining whether the set operation was successful; waiting a period of time if the set operation failed; processing the frame utilizing the TCB record stored in the CAM corresponding to the frame if the set operation was successful; and executing a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after processing the frame.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of operating a network processor device, comprising: receiving a frame; searching for an address of a transmission control block (TCB) record stored in a content addressable memory (CAM) corresponding to the frame; executing a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM; determining whether the set operation was successful; waiting a period of time if the set operation failed; processing the frame utilizing the TCB record stored in the CAM corresponding to the frame if the set operation was successful; and executing a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after processing the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the processing includes reading from or writing to the data set stored in the CAM.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 11 , further including: executing a second test and set operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after waiting the period of time; determining whether the second set operation was successful; and waiting a second period of time if the second set operation failed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
A network processor device, comprising: a machine-readable medium; and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable medium, having instructions to receive a frame, search for an address of a transmission control block (TCB) record stored in a content addressable memory (CAM) corresponding to the frame, execute a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM, determine whether the set operation was successful, wait a period of time if the set operation failed, process the frame utilizing the TCB record stored in the CAM corresponding to the frame if the set operation was successful, and execute a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after the frame has been processed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
A network processor device, comprising: a machine-readable medium; and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable medium, having instructions to receive a frame, search for an address of a transmission control block (TCB) record stored in a content addressable memory (CAM) corresponding to the frame, execute a test and set operation on a semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM, determine whether the set operation was successful, wait a period of time if the set operation failed, process the frame utilizing the TCB record stored in the CAM corresponding to the frame if the set operation was successful, and execute a clear operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after the frame has been processed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network processor device according to claim 14 , wherein the processing includes reading from or writing to the data set in the CAM.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
The network processor device according to claim 14 , wherein the machine-readable program code further includes instructions to: execute a second test and set operation on the semaphore associated with the TCB record stored in the CAM after waiting the period of time; determine whether the second set operation was successful; and wait a second period of time if the second set operation failed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6148300A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-29 | 2007-03-31 | 2007-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-29 | 2011-03-31 | 2011-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-29 | 2015-03-31 | 2015-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |