A system that indicates which frame should next be removed by a scheduler
from flow queues within a network device, such as a router, network
processor, and like devices is disclosed. The system includes a search
engine that searches a set of calendars under the control of a Finite
State Machine (FSM), a current pointer and input signals from array and a
clock line providing current time. The results of the search are loaded
into a Winner Valid array and a Winner Location array. A final decision
logic circuit parses information in the Winner Valid array and Winner
Location array to generate a final Winner Valid Signal, the identity of
the winning calendar and the winning location. Winning is used to define
the status of the calendar in the calendar status array that is selected
as a result of a search process being executed on a plurality of
calendars in the calendar status array.