Network switch with parallel working of look-up engine and network processor
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorsKevin Jennings, Kevin J. Hyland, Vincent Gavin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network switch which allows a network processor to process resultant data from a look-up engine while the look-up engine proceeds to deal with a subsequent packet. The look-up engine stores the resultant data in registers from which the resultant data is written back for the packet if the processor does not intervene. If the processor intervenes it acts on the resultant data, which is written back for the packet only after the processor has finished. A system of pointers and busy bits ensures that the packet is not forwarded until the look-up engine and (if required) the network processor have completed their operations in relation to the packet.
Claims10
A network switch for receiving and forwarding data packets that include header data containing address information, comprising:
- (a) a look-up engine disposed to perform a look-up in a database so as to obtain for each packet in a succession of packets respective resultant data which comprises forwarding data for the packet;
- (
- b) a store;
- and
- (c) a network processor for processing data in said store;
- wherein said switch:
- (i) determines whether intervention of the network processor in respect of said packet is required;
- (ii) in the event that such intervention is not required provides said resultant data for said packet;
- (iii) in the event that said intervention is required causes storage of said resultant data in said store;
- (iv) allows said processor to process said resultant data to provide processed resultant data;
- and
- (v) provides said resultant data for said packet after the completion of the processing of said resultant data by said network processor.
A network switch for receiving and forwarding data packets that include header data containing address information and including:
- (a) a database containing entries relating address information to forwarding data for packets;
- (b) a look-up engine disposed to perform a look-up in said database so as to obtain for each packet in a succession of packets respective resultant data which includes forwarding data for the packet;
- and
- (c) a network processor;
- wherein said look-up engine determines whether intervention of the network processor in respect of said packet is required and if so stores said resultant data for use by said network processor and performs a look-up in said database in respect of another packet while said network process performs processing in respect of said resultant data of said packet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.