US 2006/0187907 A1 · Apparatus and method for switching data packets

Abstract

A method and apparatus (1) is disclosed for switching data packets. A data packet is received from an input interface device (7) at one of a plurality of initial input ports (6). The data packet is divided into plural smaller data fragments. Each data fragment is passed to a respective one of a plurality of slices of an input port (3) of a core switch (2). The data fragments are switched using the core switch (2) so as to pass each data fragment to a selected respective one of a plurality of slices of an output port (3) of the core switch (2). The data fragments are then passed to a selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports (5′). The data fragments are assembled to reform the data packet, and the reformed data packet is transmitted to an output interface device (7) connected to said selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports (5′).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of switching data packets received at initial input ports from input interface devices to output interface devices connected to ultimate output ports, the method comprising:

receiving a data packet from an input interface device at one of a plurality of initial input ports;
dividing the data packet into plural smaller data fragments;
passing each data fragment to a respective one of a plurality of slices of an input port of a core switch;
switching the data fragments using the core switch so as to pass each data fragment to a selected respective one of a plurality of slices of an output port of the core switch;
passing the data fragments to a selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports;
assembling the data fragments to reform the data packet;
and,
transmitting the reformed data packet to an output interface device connected to said selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports.

5 more elements

An apparatus for switching data packets received at initial input ports from input interface devices to output interface devices connected to ultimate output ports, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of initial input ports for receiving data packets from input interface devices connected to the initial input ports;
a divider for dividing each data packet received at the initial input ports into plural smaller data fragments;
a core switch having at least one input port that has plural slices each arranged to receive a respective data fragment of a data packet, the core switch having at least one output port that has plural slices, the core switch being controllable to switch said data fragments so as to pass each data fragment to a selected respective one of the plural slices of said at least one output port of the core switch;
and,
an assembler for receiving the data fragments from said at least one output port of the core switch, for reforming the data packet from the data fragments, and for transmitting the reformed data packet to an output interface device connected to one of a plurality of ultimate output ports of the apparatus.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for switching data packets

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for switching data packets

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20