Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-18
2001-10-30
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S392000, C711S203000, C711S216000, C711S221000, C712S026000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310876
ABSTRACT:
This application is related to the following commonly-assigned, copending applications, filed concurrently herewith, entitled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTO-INCREMENTING THROUGH TABLE AND UPDATING SINGLE REGISTER IN MEMORY Ser. No. 08/993,834, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCALING NUMBER OF VIRTUAL LANS IN A SWITCH USING AN INDEXING SCHEME Ser. No. 08/993,831 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING SOURCE AND DESTINATION TRAFFIC Ser. No. 08/933,884, METHOD AND NETWORK SWITCH HAVING DUAL FORWARDING MODELS WITH A VIRTUAL LAN OVERLAY Ser. No. 08/933,835, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN INDEX KEY FOR A NETWORK SWITCH ROUTING TABLE USING A PROGRAMMABLE HASH FUNCTION Ser. No. 08/992,795 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A PORT VECTOR Ser. No. 08/933,044, SHARED ADDRESS TABLE WITH SOURCE AND DESTINATION TWO-PASS ALGORITHM Ser. No. 08/993,048 and METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING LEARNING IN AN ADDRESS TABLE IN A MEMORY Ser. No. 08/994,691.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to network communications and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for managing bin chains stored in a network switch.
BACKGROUND ART
In computer networks, a plurality of network stations are interconnected via a communications medium. For example, Ethernet is a commonly used local area network scheme in which multiple stations are connected to a single shared serial path. These stations often communicate with a switch located between the shared data path and the stations connected to that path. Typically, the switch controls the communication of data packets on the network. The network switch passes data frames received from a transmitting station to a destination station based on the header information in the received data frame, including source address and destination address.
One arrangement for generating a frame forwarding decision uses a direct addressing scheme, where the network switch includes a fixed address table storing switching logic for the destination addresses. Such arrangements, with fixed address tables, make additions to the network difficult to implement. In addition, such arrangements often cannot delete a station from the address table when the station is quiet, i.e., not transmitting data for a given period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There exists a need for a switching device that dynamically adds entries into particular bins of an address table in the network switch.
There is also a need for a switching device that may remove entries representing inactive stations in order to allow the table to support active stations in the network.
These and other needs are met by the present invention, where data received by the network switch is routed to an internal decision making engine that includes an address table. The internal decision making engine searches the address table and adds a new entry to a particular bin if the search is not successful. A host device may also add entries to a particular bin. In addition, address entries may also be removed from a bin.
According to one aspect of the invention, a network switch is configured for controlling the communication of data frames between stations. The switch includes a table for storing address information as address entries in a plurality of bins. The address entries include a searchable address and data forwarding information. The switch also includes a control device that receives information from the data frames and searches at least one of the plurality of bins for data forwarding information, based on the received information.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for managing an address table that represents a plurality of bins for storing address entries. The address entries include a searchable address and data forwarding information. The method includes receiving data frame information from stations connected to a multiport switch and searching at least one of the plurality of bins for data forwarding information, based on the received information.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description. The embodiments shown and described provide illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the
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Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Chin Wellington
Tran Maikhanh
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