Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-21
2001-05-08
Nguyen, Chau (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S473000, C370S474000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229808
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of internal and external data transfer and, in particular, to a method of communication for a computer using packet switches for internal data transfer.
2. Related Art
In a conventional computer architecture, data is transferred between internal computer components via a data bus. This method of data transfer has many problems, as described in the above-referenced related application, including bus contention, limited bandwidth, and mismatch between the clock speed of the bus and the native speeds of the internal computer components.
Another problem with the conventional computer architecture is external communication. Typically, such communication requires a complicated translation between the external communication protocol and the internal data transfer method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of internal data transfer which overcomes the above and other problems. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of communication for a packet-switching computer. As used herein, the term “packet-switching computer” refers to a computer which uses packet switches for internal data transfer.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a simplified method of external communication. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of communication between a packet-switching computer and an external network which requires little or no translation of data.
The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a method of a first embodiment according to the invention which includes the step of configuring a plurality of components of a packet-switching computer and an internal packet switch bank of the packetswitching computer to communicate using a predetermined size local data packet. The predetermined size local data packet includes a predetermined size header portion and a predetermined size data portion.
The predetermined size local data packet may be an ATM cell. Alternatively, a predetermined size of the predetermined size data portion may correspond to a predetermined size of a data payload portion of an ATM cell or an integer multiple of a predetermined size of a data payload portion of an ATM cell.
In order to improve a header size-to-cell size ratio, a predetermined size of the predetermined size header portion may be less than a predetermined size of a header portion of an ATM cell. For example, the predetermined size of the predetermined size header portion may be one byte.
In a second embodiment according to the invention, complete compatibility between a packet-switching computer and an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network is achieved by a method of communication which includes the first step of configuring the packet-switching computer's internal components and an internal packet switch bank to communicate using a packet corresponding to an ATM cell. The second step involves providing a network interface to communicate with said ATM network. The network interface is coupled to the packet switch bank. In the third step, an ATM cell is received into the network interface. Next, the ATM cell is transferred from the network interface to the packet switch bank.
In a third embodiment according to the invention, a method of communication between a network and a packet-switching computer includes the first step of receiving a network packet from the network into a network interface. In the second step a local packet is produced at the network interface. The local packet includes a data portion of the network packet and a local header portion. The third step includes communicating the local packet from the network interface to an internal packet switch bank. Either or both the network packet and the local packet may be an ATM cell.
A fourth embodiment according to the invention is similar to the third embodiment, except the second step of the fourth embodiment may include, first, removing a header portion of the network packet, and, second, adding the local header portion to the data portion of said network packet to produce the local packet. In this alternative, the local packet may not correspond exactly to an ATM cell, but may be of a predetermined size and include a predetermined size header portion and a predetermined size data payload portion. In this situation, a predetermined size of the predetermined size data payload portion may correspond to a predetermined size of a data payload portion of an ATM cell. In order to improve header size-to-cell size ratio, a predetermined size of the predetermined size header portion may be less than a predetermined size of a header portion of an ATM cell.
In a fifth embodiment according to the invention, a method of communication between a network and a packet-switching computer includes the first step of receiving multiple network packets from the network into a network interface. In the second step, a local packet is produced at the network interface. The local packet includes data portions from each of the network packets and a local header portion. In the third step, the local packet is transferred to an internal packet switch bank.
In the fifth embodiment according to the invention, the second step may include, first, removing a header portion from each of the network packets, second, assembling a local data portion from data portions from each of the network packets, and, third, adding the local header portion to the local data portion to produce the local packet.
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Stewart Brett B.
Teich Paul R.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Foley & Lardner
Hyun Soon-Dong
Nguyen Chau
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