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US 12,549,649 B2Granted
Variable frame headers
AssigneeGraphcore Limited
InventorsBjorn Dag Johnsen, Brian Edward Manula
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to provide for the extension of either the MAC address or the VLAN identifier as required, a sliding cursor functionality between the MAC address and the VLAN identifier is provided. The MAC address may be extended by borrowing bits conventionally used for representing part of the VLAN identifier. Similarly, VLAN identifier may be extended by borrowing bits conventionally used for representing part of the MAC address.
Claims17
A data processing apparatus configured to transmit frames over a network, wherein the data processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry configured to:
- perform protocol processing to construct a first set of frames for sending over a first virtual local area network, wherein each of the first set of frames comprises:
- a destination media access control address for a respective frame;
- and
- a first virtual local area network identifier identifying the first virtual local area network;
- transmit the first set of frames over the network;
- after constructing the first set of frames, perform protocol processing to construct a second set of frames for sending over a second virtual local area network, wherein each of the second set of frames comprises:
- a destination media access control address for the respective frame;
- and
- a second virtual local area network identifier identifying the second virtual local area network;
- and
- transmit the second set of frames over the network,
- wherein bits at one or more bits positions in each of the first set of frames form part of the destination media access control address for the respective frame and have different values for at least some of the first set of frames,
- wherein further bits at the one or more bits positions in each of the second set of frames form part of the second virtual local area network identifier and are fixed to have same values for all of the second set of frames sent over the second virtual local area network.
10 more elements
A method for transmitting frames over a network, the method comprising:
- performing protocol processing to construct a first set of frames for sending over a first virtual local area network, wherein each of the first set of frames comprises:
- a destination media access control address for the respective frame;
- and
- a first virtual local area network identifier identifying the first virtual local area network;
- and
- transmitting the first set of frames over the network;
- after constructing the first set of frames, performing protocol processing to construct a second set of frames for sending over a second virtual local area network, wherein each header for the second set of frames comprises:
- a destination media access control address for the respective frame;
- and
- a second virtual local area network identifier identifying the second virtual local area network;
- and
- transmitting the second set of frames over the network;
- wherein bits at the one or more bits positions in each of the first set of frames form part of the destination media access control address for the respective frame and have different values for at least some of the first set of frames,
- wherein further bits at the one or more bits positions in each of the second set of frames form part of the second virtual local area network identifier and are fixed to have same values for all of the second set of frames sent over the second virtual local area network.
11 more elements
A computer program comprising computer readable instructions, which when executed by at least one processor causes a method for supporting transmission of frames over a network to be performed, the method comprising:
- performing protocol processing to construct at least part of each of a first set of frames for sending over a first virtual local area network, wherein for each of the first set of frames, the at least part of a respective frame comprises:
- a destination media access control address for the respective frame;
- and
- a first virtual local area network identifier identifying the first virtual local area network;
- and
- for each of the first set of frames, sending the at least part of the respective frame to a network interface device for transmission over the network;
- and performing protocol processing to construct at least part of each of a second set of frames for sending over a second virtual local area network, wherein for each of the second set of frames, the at least part of the respective frame comprises:
- a destination media access control address for the respective frame;
- and
- a second virtual local area network identifier identifying the second virtual local area network;
- and
- for each of the second set of frames, sending the at least part of the respective frame to the network interface device for transmission over the network, wherein bits at one or more bits positions in each of the first frames form part of the destination media access control address for the respective frame and have different values for at least some of the first set of frames,
- wherein further bits at the one or more bits positions in each of the second set of frames form part of the second virtual local area network identifier and are fixed to have same values for all of the second set of frames sent over the second virtual local area network.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.