Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router

Details Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router

1997-09-11

2001-02-06

Vu, Huy D. (Department: 2739)

Multiplex communications

Pathfinding or routing

Switching a message which includes an address header

C370S389000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06185214

ABSTRACT:

RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Layer-
2
and layer-
3
switches processed network traffic in software. Such processing, referred to herein as frame forwarding, includes but is not limited to classification of frames into bridged and routed classes, identification of frame protocol type, destination address lookup, identification of outgoing port(s), application of various filter conditions, application of input and output port states, Data Link layer translation/substitution, network layer modifications, etc. This invention introduces a new methodology, referred to herein as Code Vectors, which enable layer-
2
and layer-
3
switches to perform network traffic forwarding entirely in hardware, entirely in software, or in a combination in both hardware and software.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a Receive Frame Processor (RFP) as part of a network bridge/router for receiving frame-characterizing information from other elements of the bridge/router and for generating plural code vectors which result in the selective processing of a received frame in software and/or hardware. These other elements include circuits and state machines which: parse the received frames for source and destination address information and for protocol identification; analyze the received frame for reception errors; generate indices into various frame characterizing tables based upon the header of the received frame; convert the received destination and source addresses in preparation for transmission from the bridge/router; and register data associated with ports through which frames are received, the registered data characterizing the handling of received frames. The received information is utilized in constructing code vectors representative of how a received frame is to be processed. Plural code vectors may be applicable to a single received frame, though prioritization is utilized in determining which code vectors are ultimately employed.
Further data structures stored in conjunction with the RFP are indexed by the constructed code vectors and indicate: 1) whether the frame, as characterized by the code vectors, is to be processed in the RFP (i.e. in hardware), in software in an associated Frame Processor (FP), or both; and 2) if processed in the Frame Processor, whether the port through which the frame was received is to be blocked to prevent misordering of received frames.
If the frame is to be processed in software, the RFP generates a Receive Vector which is provided to the FP and which conveys the frame-characterizing code vectors to the FP. The FP, using the code vectors as pointers to the appropriate frame processing software, coordinates the further processing and forwarding of the received frame in software based upon the data in the Receive Vector. This includes the case where the frame is to be forwarded through the network bridge/router by the RFP and a copy of the frame is to be processed by the FP for monitoring purposes.
If the frame is to be processed by the RFP, a Transmit Vector is generated which contains information such as a mask which identifies transmit ports to be utilized for forwarding the received frame, and information necessary for translating a header for the received frame, in the event a different encapsulation format is to be utilized for frame transmission.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5825774 (1998-10-01), Ready et al.
patent: 5831971 (1998-11-01), Bonomi et al.
patent: 6016310 (2000-01-01), Muller et al.
patent: 6018526 (2000-01-01), Liu et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Use of code vectors for frame forwarding in a bridge/router will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580771