Importance

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Abstract

A network controller for interface between a physical network and a media is disclosed. A physical layer receives data for encoding and transmission to the physical network, and for receiving and decoding data from the physical network. A media layer receives and converts data to a packet format and interfaces with the physical layer for transmitting packet formatted data thereto, and receives decoded packet formatted data from the physical layer. A transmit buffer stores received transmit data for processing by the media layer for interface to the physical layer. A receive buffer stores received data received by the media layer from the physical layer for later retrieval from the media side of the controller and is operable to store packets of received information on addressable location boundaries with a length less than the length of a packet, each received packet having a starting address of the starting addressable location in the receive buffer. A pointer buffer stores access pointers to starting addresses in the receive buffer, such that a data request from the media side of the controller can determine the starting address of a packet for retrieval from the receive buffer.

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First Claim