Välipuskuri

Välipuskuri is a Finnish term that translates to "intermediate buffer" or "intermediate storage." It refers to a temporary holding area for data or materials between two distinct processes or stages in a system. The purpose of a välipuskuri is to decouple these stages, allowing them to operate at different speeds or with different capacities.

In computing, a välipuskuri is commonly used in data processing pipelines. For instance, when a program reads data from a slow input source and processes it with a faster algorithm, a välipuskuri can store the incoming data until the processing unit is ready to handle it. This prevents the input source from being blocked and allows the processing to proceed more efficiently. Similarly, when data is sent over a network, välipuskurit are used at both the sender and receiver ends to manage the flow of packets.

In manufacturing and logistics, a välipuskuri can refer to a physical space where work-in-progress items are temporarily stored between different workstations or assembly lines. This allows production lines to operate somewhat independently, smoothing out variations in production rates and avoiding bottlenecks. For example, if one machine in a production line can produce parts faster than the next, the välipuskuri can hold the excess parts until the slower machine catches up. The size of the välipuskuri is a critical design parameter, balancing the need for decoupling against the cost of holding inventory.