# US 2008/0186992 A1 · Method and apparatus for flexible interface bypass options in switches > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186992 A1 - Document ID: US20080186992A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/025,387 - Filed: 2008-02-04 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Assignees: Marvell World Trade Ltd. - Inventors: Raghu Kondapalli; John M. Bergen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186992A1 ## CPC - H04L 49/351: for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches - H04L 49/602: {Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching} - H04L 49/25: Routing or path finding in a switch fabric - H04L 49/3009: {Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A network switching module includes N communication port modules that send and receive data packets that include physical layer addresses. A switch core module routes the data packets between N-2 of the communication port modules based on the physical layer addresses. A bypass module selectively routes the data packets between two of the communication port modules such that the data packets bypass the switch core module. N is an integer greater than or equal to 4. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network switching module comprising: N communication port modules that send and receive data packets that include physical layer addresses; a switch core module that routes the data packets between N-2 of the communication port modules based on the physical layer addresses; and a bypass module that selectively routes the data packets between two of the communication port modules such that the data packets bypass the switch core module; wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 4. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network switching module of claim 1 wherein the data packets include internet protocol addresses and further comprising an address update module that updates the physical layer addresses based on the internet protocol addresses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The network switching module of claim 1 further comprising a multiplexer that selectively provides communication between the N-2 port modules and the switch core module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The network switching module of claim 3 further comprising a bypass switch that selectively bypasses the data packets around the multiplexer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The network switching module of claim 1 further comprising a mode switch that selects one of the N-2 port modules from a group of M port modules, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The network switching module of claim 5 wherein the M port modules implement different communication interfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The network switching module of claim 6 wherein the communication interfaces include at least two of a media independent interface (MII) a reduced MII (RMII), a gigabit MII (GMII), a reduced gigabit MII (RGMII), a 10 gigabit MII (XGMII), and a serial gigabit MII (SGMII). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The network switching module of claim 7 further comprising a mode register that indicates at least one of a selected port of the M port modules and a selected one of the communication interfaces that is implemented by the selected port. ### Claim 9 A network switching method comprising: sending and receiving data packets via N communication port modules; routing data packets between N-2 of the communication port modules based on physical layer addresses included in the data packets; and routing the data packets directly between two of the communication port modules irrespective of their associated physical layer addresses; wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 4. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the data packets include internet protocol addresses and further comprising updating the physical layer addresses based on the internet protocol addresses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising selectively providing communication between the N-2 port modules and a switch core module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively bypassing the data packets around the switch core module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting one of the N-2 port modules from a group of M port modules, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the M port modules implement different communication interfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the communication interfaces include at least two of a media independent interface (MII) a reduced MII (RMII), a gigabit MII (GMII), a reduced gigabit MII (RGMII), a 10 gigabit MII (XGMII), and a serial gigabit MII (SGMII). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising indicating at least one of a selected port of the M port modules and a selected one of the communication interfaces that is implemented by the selected port. ### Claim 17 A network switching module comprising: N communication port means for sending and receiving data packets that include physical layer addresses; switch core means for routing the data packets between N-2 of the communication port means based on the physical layer addresses; and bypass means for selectively routing the data packets between two of the communication port means such that the data packets bypass the switch core means; wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 4. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The network switching module of claim 17 wherein the data packets include internet protocol addresses and further comprising address update means for updating the physical layer addresses based on the internet protocol addresses. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The network switching module of claim 17 further comprising multiplexing means for selectively providing communication between the N-2 port means and the switch core means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network switching module of claim 19 further comprising bypass switch means for selectively bypassing the data packets around the multiplexing means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The network switching module of claim 17 further comprising mode switch means for selecting one of the N-2 port means from a group of M port means, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The network switching module of claim 21 wherein the M port means implement different communication interfaces. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The network switching module of claim 22 wherein the communication interfaces include at least two of a media independent interface (MII) a reduced MII (RMII), a gigabit MII (GMII), a reduced gigabit MII (RGMII), a 10 gigabit MII (XGMII), and a serial gigabit MII (SGMII). ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The network switching module of claim 23 further comprising mode register means for indicating at least one of a selected port of the M port modules and a selected one of the communication interfaces that is implemented by the selected port.