Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
2008-06-03
2008-06-03
Pham, Chi (Department: 2616)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S389000, C370S422000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07382790
ABSTRACT:
Methods and apparatus for switching Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop Systems is provided between a plurality of Fibre Channel Loop devices. In one aspect of the invention, the system switches based at least in part on arbitrated loop primitives. An exemplary interconnect system may include a first port and a second port, both including port logic to monitor certain arbitrated loop primitives, a connectivity apparatus, a route determination apparatus including a routing table consisting of ALPA addresses and their associated ports, the route determination apparatus coupled to each port and the connectivity apparatus, where the connectivity apparatus creates paths between the ports based on arbitrated loop primitives. In one embodiment, the connectivity apparatus is a crossbar switch. Examples of the arbitrated loop primitives that cause the switch to create paths between ports includes one or more of the following: ARB, OPN and CLS. In yet other aspects, the system ensures device access fairness through one or more techniques, including a rotating priority system, a counter to count the number of OPNs, especially sequential OPNs, and/or priority based on port type. Device zoning may be implemented. In one implementation, the system includes trunking such that frames may be transferred on multiple ports.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5619497 (1997-04-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 5751715 (1998-05-01), Chan et al.
patent: 5754549 (1998-05-01), DeFoster et al.
patent: 5978379 (1999-11-01), Chan et al.
patent: 5991891 (1999-11-01), Hahn et al.
patent: 6118776 (2000-09-01), Berman
patent: 6185203 (2001-02-01), Berman
patent: 6192054 (2001-02-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6243386 (2001-06-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6324181 (2001-11-01), Wong et al.
patent: 6396832 (2002-05-01), Kranzler
patent: 6470007 (2002-10-01), Berman
patent: 6532212 (2003-03-01), Soloway et al.
patent: 6614796 (2003-09-01), Black et al.
patent: 6754210 (2004-06-01), Ofek
patent: 6804245 (2004-10-01), Mitchem et al.
patent: 6999460 (2006-02-01), Fiore
patent: 7009985 (2006-03-01), Black et al.
patent: 2002/0044561 (2002-04-01), Coffey
patent: 2002/0044562 (2002-04-01), Killen et al.
patent: 2002/0196773 (2002-12-01), Berman
patent: 2003/0108058 (2003-06-01), Black et al.
patent: 2003/0189935 (2003-10-01), Warden et al.
patent: 0 858 190 (1998-08-01), None
Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop(FC-AL-2)Rev 7.0, ANSI T11.3 Project 960M FC-AL and Project 1133-D FC-AL2, Apr. 1, 1999, Global Engineering, Englewood, CO.
Fibre Channel Private Loop SCSI Direct Attach(FC-PLDA)Rev. 2.1, ANSI T11.3 Project 1162-DT, Sep. 22, 1997, Global Engineering, Englewood, CO.
“Increasing Intelligence Within the SAN Fabric”, Internet Citation: URL:http://www.brocade.com/san/white—papers/pdf/IncreasingIntelligienceWithinSan.pdf.
Fibre Channel Fabric Generic Requirements, American National Standard, Aug. 7, 1996, pp. 1-23.
“Optimizing The Perfomance And Management of 2 Gbit/sec SAN Fabrics With ISL Trunking”, Internet Citation, Mar. 2002, Retrieved from the Internet: URL:hrrp://www.brocade.com/san/white—papers/pdf/ISL—Trunking—WP—R5.pdf.
Eng Warren
Goodwin William P.
Johnson Bruce E.
Mies Carl
Warren Bruce Gregory
Emulex Design & Manufacturing Corporation
Mew Kevin
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Pham Chi
LandOfFree
Methods and apparatus for switching fibre channel arbitrated... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Methods and apparatus for switching fibre channel arbitrated..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Methods and apparatus for switching fibre channel arbitrated... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2810460