Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-17
2001-09-11
Olms, Douglas (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S352000, C370S389000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289015
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of network communications and, more specifically, to the secure switching of a packet through a switch that may have Local Area Networks (LANs) coupled to various ports of the switch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a typical network environment, a switch may be utilized to facilitate communications between various segments of a single network in an intelligent and accordingly efficient manner. Specifically, a switch may in time learn the network addresses of the various network devices on segments coupled to the respective ports of the switch. By examining each packet received at the switch, the switch is then able to make a determination as to whether the received packet should be propagated out of a particular port, and over a particular segment, based on the address information associated with the received packet.
As a switch is typically deployed within a single network (e.g., the network of a single organization) which is secured from unauthorized, outside access, there is no need to provide robust security between ports of the switch Specifically, the various segments of the single network that are serviced by the switch are typically utilized to facilitate communications between network devices of a single organization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided switching apparatus for switching a packet within a communications network. The switching apparatus includes a switch core servicing a plurality of ports. Address matching logic, coupled to the switching core, implements an address look-up scheme according to which the switching core may switch a packet. Override logic, coupled to the switching core, determines whether a packet received at any one of the plurality of ports was received at a first port. If not, the override logic overrides the address matching logic to cause the switching core to route the packet exclusively to the first port.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5689644 (1997-11-01), Cou et al.
patent: 6009092 (1999-12-01), Basilico
patent: 6084878 (2000-07-01), Crayford et al.
“TNETX-15AE Address-Lookup Device”, Texas Instruments Datasheets, pp1-78, SPWS041A, Aug. 1997, revised Oct. 1997.
“TNETX3100—ThunderSwitch™ 10-Port 10-/100-MBIT/S Ethernet™ Switch”, Texas Instruments Datasheets, pp 1-79, SPWS031D, Jun. 1997, revised Oct. 1997.
“TNETX3150/TNETX3150A ThunderSwitch™ 15-Port 10-/100-MBIT/S Ethernet™ Switch”, Texas Instruments Database, pp 1-112, SPWS027F, Feb. 1997, revised Sep. 1997.
Corder Patrick L.
Ethier Steven L.
Miller Mark S.
Warner Thomas E.
Blakely & Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman
Mehra Indes Pal
Olms Douglas
Tut Systems, Inc.
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