Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a data processing apparatus and method for a telecommunications system, the apparatus being operable to pass data packets between a first interface connectable to a first transport mechanism and a second interface connectable to a second transport mechanism. The data processing apparatus comprises a plurality of processing elements including the first and second interfaces, and operable to perform predetermined control functions to control the passing of data packets between the first and second interfaces, predetermined connections being provided between the processing elements. A plurality of buffers are provided, with each buffer being operable to store a data packet to be passed between the first and second interfaces, and a plurality of connection queues are also provided, each connection queue being associated with one of the predetermined connections, and being operable to store one or more queue pointers, each queue pointer being associated with a data packet by providing an identifier for the buffer containing that data packet. Each processing element is then responsive to receiving a queue pointer from an associated connection queue to perform its predetermined control functions in respect of the associated data packet, whereby the passing of a data packet between the first and second interfaces is controlled by the routing of the associated queue pointer between a number of the connection queues.

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First Claim