US 6,650,660 B1Granted

Apparatus and method for synchronization of multiple data paths and recovery from lost synchronization

AssigneePluris, Inc.

InventorsJeffrey A. Koehler, Eric J. Spada, Eric J. Pelletier

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Abstract

A system and method for transferring data from a source to a destination are described. Data packets are split into multiple data packet portions and are transferred in parallel over parallel data streams or pipes to grouping circuitry where they are recombined into full data packets. Each packet portion is assigned a synchronization code and a pipe state machine state. The grouping circuitry reads individual packet portions from the parallel streams and analyzes the synchronization codes and the state machine states to determine if the individual packet portions were generated from the same packet. If so, they are recombined into a full packet and are forwarded to the destination. If not, an error is detected. The grouping circuitry automatically realigns the data streams to recover synchronization without the need for any feedback to the individual streams to correct the error.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method of transferring packets of data from a source to a destination, the source being adapted to receive a plurality of said packets of data for transfer to the destination, the method comprising:

for each packet of the plurality of packets of data to be transferred, splitting said data into a first portion and a second portion;
associating a first synchronization code with the first portion of data for each packet;
associating a second synchronization code with the second portion of data for each packet;
with a first processor, analyzing the first portion of data and the associated first synchronization code for each packet of data to identify a first state associated with the first portion of data for each packet;
for each packet of data, storing the first portion of data, its associated first synchronization code and the associated first state in a first storage device;
with a second processor, analyzing the second portion of data and the associated second synchronization code for each packet of data to identify a second state associated with the second portion of data for each packet;
for each packet of data, storing the second portion of data, its associated second synchronization code and the associated second state in a second storage device;
and
with a third processor, (i) reading from the first storage device one of the first portions of data stored therein, its associated first synchronization code, and its associated first state, (ii) reading from the second storage device one of the second portions of data stored therein, its associated second synchronization code, and its associated second state, (iii) determining whether the first and second portions of data were generated from the same packet of data, and (iv) if the first and second portions of data were generated from the same packet of data, combining them to regenerate the packet of data.

6 more elements

An apparatus for transferring packets of data from a source to a destination, the source being adapted to receive a plurality of said packets of data for transfer to the destination, the apparatus comprising:

a splitting device for (i) receiving from the source each said packet of data to be transferred to the destination and splitting each said packet of data into a first portion and a second portion, (ii) associating a first synchronization code with the first portion of data for each packet, and (iii) associating a second synchronization code with the second portion of data for each packet;
a first processor for analyzing the first portion of data and the associated first synchronization code for each packet of data to identify a first state associated with the first portion of data for each packet;
a first storage device for storing, for each packet of data, the first portion of data, its associated first synchronization code and the associated first state;
a second processor for analyzing the second portion of data and the associated second synchronization code for each packet of data to identify a second state associated with the second portion of data for each packet;
a second storage device for storing, for each packet of data, the second portion of data, its associated second synchronization code and the associated second state;
and
a third processor for (i) reading from the first storage device one of the first portions of data stored therein, its associated first synchronization code, and its associated first state, (ii) reading from the second storage device one of the second portions of data stored therein, its associated second synchronization code, and its associated second state, (iii) determining whether the first and second portions of data were generated from the same packet of data, and (iv) if the first and second portions of data were generated from the same packet of data, combining them to regenerate the packet of data.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/361,467Filed 27 Jul 1999
Granted: 18 Nov 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H04Q 11/0478
Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral,…:…
H04L 9/40
Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols: network security protocols
H04L 69/03
Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass:…
H04L 69/14
Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass:…