Method and apparatus for distributing and consolidating data packets onto multiple network interfaces

An interface for transmitting digital data across multiple connections between first and second point-to-point entities in a wide area network, comprising:

• a frame-based inverse multiplexer residing in the first entity for placing digital data frames traveling at a first frame rate onto the multiple connections between the first and second entities at a second frame rate, the first frame rate being greater than the second frame rate;
• and
• a receiver residing in the second entity for buffering and multiplexing to the first frame rate the digital data frames received from the multiple connections between the first and second entities,
• wherein the first frame rate is an effective transfer rate between the first and second entities for a given group of digital data frames;
• and
• wherein the frame-based inverse multiplexer comprises:
• a plurality of buffers, each buffer being coupled to a respective connection;
• and
• a frame distribution logic circuit coupled to the plurality of buffers for successively distributing data frames to each buffer that satisfies a predetermined capacity constraint and is coupled to a functioning connection.

An interface for exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to-point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the interface comprising:

• means for parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• means for sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• means for receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• means for multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• wherein the plurality of connections includes associated buffers at the first entity, and wherein the means for parsing comprises:
• means for determining for successive buffers whether a predetermined threshold storage quantity exceeds the number of data bytes stored in the buffer;
• means for selecting the first buffer determined to contain less data bytes than the predetermined threshold storage quantity;
• and
• means for placing a data frame into the selected buffer.

A method of exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to-point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• a method of inverse multiplexing data frames arriving sequentially at a plurality of buffers coupled to transmission lines, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining for successive buffers whether a predetermined threshold storage quantity exceeds the number of data bytes stored in the buffer;
• selecting the first buffer determined to contain less data bytes than the predetermined threshold storage quantity;
• and
• placing the next arriving data frame into the selected buffer.

A method of exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to-point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• a method of inverse multiplexing data frames arriving sequentially at a plurality of buffers coupled to transmission lines, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining the amount of stored frame data in each one of the plurality of buffers;
• selecting the buffer determined to contain the least amount of stored frame data;
• and
• placing the next arriving data frame into the selected buffer.

A method of exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to-point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• a method of removing data frames from a plurality of buffers coupled to transmission lines, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining for each successive frame whether the number of data bytes stored in the buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold storage quantity;
• and
• removing a data frame from the first buffer determined to contain more data bytes than the predetermined threshold storage quantity.

A method of exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• a method of removing data frames from a plurality of buffers coupled to transmission lines, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining the amount of stored frame data in each one of the plurality of buffers;
• and
• removing a data frame from the buffer determined to contain the greatest amount of stored frame data.

A method of exchanging data at a first rate between first and second point-to-point entities coupled in a wide area network by a plurality of connections through which data travels at a second rate, the first rate being greater than the second rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• parsing, at the first entity, data frames traveling at the first rate into a plurality of data frames traveling at the second rate;
• sending the plurality of data frames to the second entity via the plurality of connections;
• receiving and buffering the plurality of data frames at the second entity;
• and
• multiplexing the plurality of data frames into data frames traveling at the first rate;
• and
• a method of removing data frames from a plurality of buffers coupled to transmission lines, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining the amount of stored frame data in successive buffers until one of the buffers is determined to contain at least one frame of stored data;
• and
• removing the frame from the first buffer determined to contain at least one frame of stored data.