Method and apparatus for frame header splitting in a media access control/host system interface unit

Claim 1

An interface system connected between a local area network communications medium and a network station for transferring information frames between the communications medium and a memory system associated with the network station, wherein each information frame consists of a sequence of frame segments having identifiable boundaries therebetween, and wherein the memory system includes a plurality of separate storage areas, the interface system comprising: a bus interface unit connectable to the network station for transferring information frames between the interface system and the memory system; indicate circuitry connected to the bus interface unit and connectable to the communications medium for transferring information frames received by the interface system from the communications medium to the memory system via the bus interface unit; request circuitry connected to the bus interface unit and connectable to the communications medium for transferring information frames received by the interface system from the memory system via the bus interface unit to the communications medium; frame segment detection circuitry connected to the indicate circuitry for identifying the identifiable boundary between first and second adjacent frame segments of an information frame prior to transfer of the information frame to the system memory via the bus interface unit; and segment transfer control circuitry connected to the frame segment detection circuitry for providing a control signal to the bus interface unit such that the bus interface unit transfers the first of the adjacent frame segments to a first storage area of the memory system and the second of the adjacent frame segments to a second storage area of the memory system different from the first storage area.