| Abstract: | A technique for distributed packet processing includes sequentially
passing packets associated with packet flows between a plurality of
processing engines along a flow through data bus linking the plurality of
processing engines in series. At least one packet within a given packet
flow is marked by a given processing engine to signify by the given
processing engine to the other processing engines that the given
processing engine has claimed the given packet flow for processing. A
processing function is applied to each of the packet flows within the
processing engines and the processed packets are output on a time-shared,
arbitered data bus coupled to the plurality of processing engines. |