Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Multiple network interconnecting
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-24
2001-01-23
Burgess, Glenton B. (Department: 2757)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Multiple network interconnecting
C709S208000, C709S209000, C710S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178462
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to interfaces between local area networks and wide area networks, and in particular, to a protocol for connecting a local area network to a wide area network.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Presently, numerous types of networks co-exist in the telecommunications industry, such as Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), X.25 Networks, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) networks. Because of the existence of different networks and standards, there is a need in the telecommunications industry for communication between data processing devices connected to heterogeneous networks. As an example, owners of previously installed LANs frequently want to connect to the emerging broadband ISDN or ATM networks.
Because the performance parameters of these networks continues to increase, there is a need for designing network interfaces to support more functions at the hardware level, since such a hardware design often out performs a design implemented in software. One of these functions being driven to the hardware level is network routing. There are many problems associated with performing routing in hardware. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of efficiently supporting multiple PCI (peripheral component interface) network devices as a wide area connection to a network backbone in a network routing engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a PCI Bus for connecting Network Interface Cards (NICs) to a Hardware Assisted Routing Engine (HARE). Using PCI NICs as the wide area network interface leverages both the reduced cost and flexibility that a commodity PCI adaptor card can provide.
To take advantage of a specific PCI NIC's frame data movement capability, a HARE is provided that interfaces directly with the PCI adaptor's data moving mechanism, whether it is a PCI slave (target) or a PCI master (initiator). Thus, this invention provides a protocol for using a flexible PCI interface design that can be used by HAREs to take full advantage of various PCI NICs.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
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Bass Brian M.
Doidge Dennis Albert
Ku Edward Hau-chun
Lemke Scott J.
Rash Joseph M.
Burgess Glenton B.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Le Quoc-Khanh
Timar John J.
Winstead Sechrest & Minick
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