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AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert M. Bunce, Louis T. Fasano, Christos J. Georgiou, Kevin G. Kramer, Brian J. Schuh
Estimating the term…
A data communication controller processes incoming data frames. The controller includes a pre-processing block for receiving data frames and a frame processing unit coupled to the pre-processing block. The pre-processing block is configured to compare header fields of a current frame with header fields of a previous frame. The pre-processing block provides an output signal to the frame processing unit on the basis of the comparison of the header fields of the current and previous frames. The controller may operate in accordance with the Fibre Channel protocol, and the output signal may include bits to indicate that the current frame is of the same exchange, of the same sequence, and is next in sequence relative to the previous frame.
1] In a network of computers having a dedicated storage network for retrieving data from storage, a method of processing packets received on the storage network, the method comprising the step of:
2] The method of claim 1, further comprising:
3] The method of claim 2, wherein the header fields are indicative of respective originator exchange ID's of the current frame and the previous frame.
4] The method of claim 2, wherein the header fields are indicative of respective responder exchange ID's of the current frame and the previous frame.
5] The method of claim 2 wherein the header fields are indicative of respective source nodes of the current frame and the previous frame.
6] The method of claim 2, wherein the header fields are indicative of respective sequence ID's of the current frame and the previous frame.
7] The method of claim 2, wherein the header fields are indicative of respective sequence counts of the current frame and the previous frame.
8] The method of claim 2, wherein the comparing step includes determining whether the header field of the current frame is identical to the header field of the previous frame.
9] The method of claim 2, wherein the comparing step includes determining whether a sequence count header field of the current frame differs by 1 from a corresponding header field of the previous frame.
10] The method of claim 1, wherein the previous frame was received immediately before the current frame.
11] The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying the stored sequential indicator to a frame processing unit.
12] A method of processing incoming data frames in a data communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
13] The method of claim 12, wherein the previous frame was received immediately before the current frame.
14] The method of claim 12, wherein the generating step includes:
15] The method of claim 12, wherein the providing step includes storing the at least one bit in a frame buffer, and allowing the frame processing unit to access the stored at least one bit.
16] The method of claim 12, wherein the providing step includes supplying the at least one bit to the frame processing unit as a sideband signal.
17] The method of claim 12, wherein the frame processing unit is a processor that operates under control of a stored program.
18] Apparatus adapted to process incoming data frames, comprising:
19] The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frame processing unit includes a processor that operates under control of a stored program.
20] The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the frame processing unit further includes a frame buffer that stores the incoming frames and the output signal, the frame buffer being accessible by the processor.
21] The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the output signal includes respective bits for:
22] The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:
23] A method of pre-processing an incoming data frame, comprising the steps of:
24] The method of claim 23, wherein the incoming data frame is received immediately after the previous data frame.
25] A logic circuit for pre-processing an incoming data frame, comprising: