A network interface card is provided. The network interface card includes a plurality
of pipelined processors. Each of the pipelined processors includes an input socket
having at least three single ported memory regions configured to store variable-size
data packets. The at least three single ported memory regions enable a downstream
processor reading the variable-size data packets from the single ported memory
regions to maintain a data throughput to support an incoming line rate of a data
stream. The line rate data throughput is maintained after a maximum size data packet
has been read by the downstream processor. Methods of method for optimizing throughput
between a producing processor and a consuming processor and a processor are also provided.
