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US 7,031,325 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for enabling a network device to operate in accordance with multiple protocols
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorRobert A. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network device that controls the communication of data frames between stations includes receive ports that receive data frames from the stations. The network device also includes a memory that stores address information and data forwarding information associated with the received data frames. The network device further includes processing logic that processes and forwards the received data frames in accordance with one of two protocols. In accordance with a first protocol, the network device forwards the data frames to their destinations without modifying the respective data frames. In accordance with a second protocol, the network device may modify the data frames before forwarding the data frames to their respective destinations.
Claims18
A network device configured to control communication of data frames between stations, comprising:
- a plurality of receive ports configured to receive data frames from the stations;
- a buffer configured to buffer the received data frames;
- queuing logic configured to:
- obtain a frame pointer for each of the received data frames, each frame pointer identifying a location in a memory located externally from the network device, and
- transfer each of the received data frames to the external memory for storage in a location identified by one of the respective frame pointers;
- a memory configured to store address information and data forwarding information associated with the received data frames;
- processing logic configured to:
- and
- identify data forwarding information for a first one of the received data frames, the data forwarding information identifying at least a first transmit port and a first virtual local area network (VLAN),
- generate a forwarding descriptor for the first data frame, the forwarding descriptor including:
- a first field identifying at least one transmit port, and
- a second field including information identifying whether the first data frame was at least one of untagged, VLAN-tagged or priority-tagged,
- generate a first code indicating that the first data frame is to be transmitted without modification, when the network device is operating in accordance with a first protocol, and
- generate a second code indicating that the first data frame is to be transmitted without a VLAN tag, the first data frame is to be transmitted with a VLAN tag or the first data frame is to be transmitted without modification, when the network device is operating in accordance with a second protocol and based on the contents of the first field and the second field;
- and
- a register configured to store information indicating whether the network device is operating in accordance with the first protocol.
13 more elements
In a network device that controls communication of data frames between stations, a method comprising:
- setting an operating mode to at least one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode for the network device;
- storing information in a memory of a network device, the information including address information and data forwarding information;
- receiving data frames on a plurality of receive ports of the network device;
- obtaining a frame pointer for each of the received data frames, each frame pointer identifying a location in an external memory relative to the network device;
- transferring each of the received data frames to the external memory for storage in a location identified by one of the respective frame pointers;
- transferring frame headers associated with the received data frames for processing;
- identifying data forwarding information for a first one of the received data frames, the data forwarding information identifying at least a first transmit port and a first virtual local area network (VLAN);
- generating a forwarding descriptor for the first data frame, the forwarding descriptor including:
- a first field identifying at least one transmit port, and
- a second field including information identifying whether the first data frame was at least one of untagged, VLAN-tagged or priority-tagged;
- forwarding the first data frame to the first transmit port without modifying the first data frame, when the network device is operating in the first operating mode;
- and
- at least one of inserting VLAN information into the first data frame, deleting VLAN information included in the first data frame or modifying VLAN information included in the first data frame, when the network device is operating in the second operating mode and based on the contents of the first field and the second field.
10 more elements
A network device comprising:
- a plurality of receive ports configured to receive data frames from a plurality of stations;
- a plurality of transmit ports configured to transmit data frames;
- queuing logic configured to:
- obtain a frame pointer for each of the received data frames, each frame pointer identifying a location in a first memory, the first memory being located externally with respect to the network device, and
- transfer the received data frames to the first memory for storage in a location identified by one of the respective frame pointers;
- a second memory configured to store address information and data forwarding information associated with the received data frames;
- a decision making engine configured to:
- identify data forwarding information for a first one of the received data frames, the data forwarding information identifying at least a first one of the transmit ports and a first virtual local area network (VLAN);
- generate a forwarding descriptor for the first data frame, the forwarding descriptor including:
- an untagged set field identifying at least one transmit port, and
- a first opcode field including information identifying whether the first data frame was at least one of untagged, VLAN-tagged or priority-tagged;
- and
- processing logic configured to:
- generate a second opcode to indicate that the first data frame is to be transmitted without modification, when the network device is operating in accordance with a first protocol, and
- generate a second opcode to indicate that the first data frame is to be transmitted without a VLAN tag, the first data frame is to be transmitted with a VLAN tag or the first data frame is to be transmitted without modification, when the network device is operating in accordance with a second protocol and based on the contents of the untagged set field and the first opcode field.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.