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US 7,126,947 B2Granted
Switch having external address resolution interface
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsMohan Kalkunte, Shekhar Ambe, Soma Pullela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network switch that has a plurality of input ports that receive data packets. An external interface is connected to the plurality of input ports. The external interface externally transmits the data packets for processing, and receives the data packets after processing. A memory management unit is connected to the external interface and a plurality of output ports are connected to the memory management unit.
Claims12
A network switch comprising:
- a plurality of input ports that receive data packets;
- an external address resolution interface connected to at least one of said plurality of input ports, said external address resolution interface externally transmitting said data packets for processing, and receiving said data packets after processing, wherein said external address resolution interface is coupled to an external address resolution switch;
- a memory management unit connected to said external interface;
- and
- a plurality of output ports connected to said memory management unit.
2 more elements
A method of processing a data packet in a network switch comprising the steps of:
- receiving a data packet in an input port;
- transmitting said data packet from said input port over an interface to an external switch for address resolution;
- processing said packet in said external switch;
- transmitting said packet from said external switch to said interface;
- receiving said data packet in said interface from said external switch;
- transmitting said data packet from said interface to a memory management unit;
- and
- transmitting said data packet from said memory management unit to an output.
5 more elements
A network switch comprising:
- an input port receiving means for receiving a data packet in an input port;
- an input port transmitting means for transmitting said data packet from said input port over an interface to an external switch for address resolution;
- a processing means for processing said packet in said external switch;
- an external switch transmitting means for transmitting said packet from said external switch to said interface;
- an interface receiving means for receiving said data packet in said interface from said external switch;
- an interface transmitting means for transmitting said data packet from said interface to a memory management unit;
- and
- a memory unit transmitting means for transmitting said data packet from said memory management unit to an output port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.