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A processor contains a configurable functional unit that is capable of executing reconfigurable instructions, whose effect can be redefined at run-time by loading a configuration program. Reconfigurable instructions are selected in combinations of more than one different reconfigurable instruction.

A processor contains a configurable functional unit that is capable of executing reconfigurable instructions, whose effect can be redefined at run-time by loading a configuration program. Reconfigurable instructions are selected in combinations of more than one different reconfigurable instruction. A respective configuration program is generated for each combination of instructions. Each time when an instruction from one of the combinations is needed during execution and the configurable functional unit is not configured with the configuration program for that combination, the configuration program for all of the instructions of that combination into the configurable functional unit. The reconfigurable instruction selects which instruction of the combination is executed.

대표청구항 ▼

A processor contains a configurable functional unit that is capable of executing reconfigurable instructions, whose effect can be redefined at run-time by loading a configuration program. Reconfigurable instructions are selected in combinations of more than one different reconfigurable instruction.

A processor contains a configurable functional unit that is capable of executing reconfigurable instructions, whose effect can be redefined at run-time by loading a configuration program. Reconfigurable instructions are selected in combinations of more than one different reconfigurable instruction. A respective configuration program is generated for each combination of instructions. Each time when an instruction from one of the combinations is needed during execution and the configurable functional unit is not configured with the configuration program for that combination, the configuration program for all of the instructions of that combination into the configurable functional unit. The reconfigurable instruction selects which instruction of the combination is executed. , where D represents the transition delay, X represents the peak rate, N represents the number of user network interfaces and W represents the assigned upstream bandwidth. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said passive network is a passive optical network (PON). 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said passive optical network is an ATM-PON. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said network interface cards accept communications traffic from a non-constant bit rate source. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first threshold and said second threshold are the same. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first threshold and said second threshold are different such that a hysteresis is provided in said queue to limit transitions between rate control. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said customer-side interface is an optical network termination (ONT), said cells being output from said queue in response to grants generated from said network-side interface. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper threshold is selected in order to avoid cell loss during transitions between rate control activation and back. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said network interface cards receive communications traffic selected from the group consisting of Ethernet, token ring, frame relay, AAL2, AAL5, and voice/video. 10. An optical network termination (ONT) apparatus for use in a passive optical network, said ONT adapted to couple with one or more network interface cards having rate controllers thereon to reduce a maximum possible output rate of said interface cards from a first rate to a second rate, said apparatus comprising: a priority queue coupled to corresponding network interface cards of said ONT for storing cells therein awaiting upstream transmission to said OLT in accordance with grants issued from an optical line termination (OLT) device; and a queue status monitor coupled to said priority queue, said status monitor operable to sense when a first threshold is exceeded in said queue, wherein a feedback signal is generated in response to said first threshold being exceeded such that said rate controllers of said network interface cards are activated to alter the output rate of said network interface cards from said first rate to said second rate, said rate controllers being deactivated when a level in said queue falls below a second threshold such that said maximum possible output rate of said interface cards returns to said first rate, wherein said first threshold is selected in order to avoid cell loss during transitions between rate control activation and back, wherein the queue holds at least (D*X*N-D*W) additional cells beyond said first threshold, where D represents the transition delay, X represents the peak rate, N represents the number of user network interfaces and W represents the assigned upstream bandwidth. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said network interface cards accept communications traffic from a non-constant bit rate source. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said passive optical network (PON) is an ATM-PON. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first threshold and said second threshold are different such that a hysteresis is provided in said queue to limit transitions between rate control. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said customer-side interface is an optical network termination (ONT), said cells being output from said queue in response to grants generated from said network-side interface. 15. An optical network termination (ONT) apparatus for use in an ATM passive optical network, said apparatus comprising: at least one network interface card having rate controllers thereon to reduce a maximum output rate of said interface card from a first rate to a second rate; a priority queue coupled to corresponding network interface cards of said ONT for storing cells therein awaiting upstream transmission to a network-side optical interface device; and a queue st atus monitor coupled to said priority queue, said status monitor operable to sense when a first threshold is exceeded in said queue, wherein a feedback signal is generated in response to said first threshold being exceeded such that said rate controllers of said network interface cards are activated to alter the output rate of said network interface cards from said first rate to said second rate, said rate controllers being deactivated when a level in said queue level falls below a second threshold, wherein said first threshold is selected in order to avoid cell loss during transitions between rate control activation and back, wherein the queue holds at least (D*X*N-D*W) additional cells beyond said first threshold, where D represents the transition delay, X represents the peak rate, N represents the number of user network interfaces and W represents the assigned upstream bandwidth. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said network interface cards accept communications traffic from a non-constant bit rate source. 17. A method of regulating upstream transmission of cells from a customer-side optical network interface device to a network-side optical interface device in a passive optical network, where said customer-side optical network interface couples with one or more customer network interface cards having rate controllers thereon to reduce a maximum output rate of said interface cards from a peak rate to a controlled peak rate, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring a priority queue in said customer-side optical network interface having cells stored therein awaiting upstream transmission to said network-side optical interface device; activating said rate controllers when a first threshold is exceeded in said queue to limit the output of said network interface cards to said controlled peak rate, and deactivating said rate controllers when said queue falls below a second threshold such that the maximum output rate of said cards is restored to said peak rate, wherein said first threshold is selected in order to avoid cell loss during transitions between rate control activation and back, wherein the queue holds at least (D*X*N-D*W) additional cells beyond said first threshold, where D represents the transition delay, X represents the peak rate, N represents the number of user network interfaces and W represents the assigned upstream bandwidth. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said network interface cards accept communications traffic from a non-constant bit rate source. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said customer-side interface is an optical network termination (ONT), said cells being output from said queue in response to grants generated from said network-side interface. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said network interface cards receive communications traffic selected from the group consisting of Ethernet, token ring, frame relay, AAL2, AAL5, and voice/video.