Context-switching multi channel programmable stream parser
AssigneeMarvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
InventorDan Aleksandrowicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stream parser for receiving, parsing, and/or pre-processing network data traffic directly from an incoming unreconstructed data stream. To extract meaningful data from the unreconstructed data stream, the stream parser employs a context switch module for re-forming parts of packet headers as the data stream is streaming through the stream parser. The stream parser includes a logic unit operated by microcode stored in a program module, as well as a channel configuration memory controlled by software in a master processor. Because of this combination of hardware processing and software control, the stream parser is both quick and flexible.
Claims100
A stream parser for parsing incoming network data traffic, comprising:
- an input for receiving a time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream;
- a context switch module to selectively store a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion from the input is from a different channel than the first portion, wherein the first portion is being stored to be combined with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- a logic unit in communication with said input and said context switch module for performing at least one of parsing and altering the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein said logic unit performs at least one of parsing and altering on the combined first and third portions;
- and
- an output for transmitting the TDM multi-channel data stream.
A method for at least one of parsing and pre-processing incoming data traffic, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream;
- selectively storing a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion is from a different channel than the first portion,
- combining the first portion with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- and
- performing at least one of parsing and altering the received TDM multi-channel data stream,
- wherein said step of performing at least one of parsing and altering is performed on the combined first and third portions.
A communications system, comprising:
- a stream parser for receiving a time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream from a wide area network (WAN), said stream parser comprising:
- a context switch module for selectively storing a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion is from a different channel than the first portion, wherein the first portion is being stored to be combined with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- a logic unit in communication with said context switch module for performing at least one of parsing and altering the received TDM multi-channel data stream,
- wherein said logic unit performs at least one of parsing and altering on the combined first and third portions;
- and
- an output for transmitting the TDM multi-channel data stream;
- and
- a network controller for receiving the TDM multi-channel data stream transmitted by the stream parser and for transmitting the received TDM multi-channel data stream to addressable processor in a local area network (LAN).
An apparatus for parsing incoming network data traffic, comprising:
- an input means for receiving a time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream;
- a context switch means for selectively storing a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion is from a different channel than the first portion, and for combining the stored first portion with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream,
- wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- a logic means for performing at least one of parsing and altering the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein said means performs at least one of parsing and altering on the combined first and third portions;
- and
- an output means for transmitting the TDM multi-channel data stream.
A computer readable medium embodied with a program of instructions for execution by a programmable device for performing a method of at least one of parsing and pre-processing incoming data traffic, the program of instructions comprising:
- instructions for performing at least one of parsing and altering a received time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream;
- wherein a stream parser comprises the programmable device;
- wherein the stream parser further comprises means for selectively storing a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion is from a different channel than the first portion, and means for combining the stored first portion with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream,
- wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- and
- wherein at least one of said instructions are for performing at least one of parsing and altering on the combined first and third portions.
A computer readable medium embodied with a program of instructions for execution by a master device which controls at least one of parsing and pre-processing incoming data traffic, the program of instructions comprising:
- instructions for creating and transmitting channel configuration entries to a stream parser,
- wherein each of the channel configuration entries comprises information concerning a particular channel in an incoming time division multiplexed (TDM) multi-channel data stream, and wherein the channel configuration entries provide direction for the stream parser to perform at least one of parsing and altering the received TDM multi-channel data stream;
- wherein the stream parser comprises means for selectively storing a first portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream when an incoming second portion is from a different channel than the first portion, and means for combining the stored first portion with a subsequently received third portion of the received TDM multi-channel data stream, wherein the first portion and the subsequently received third portion belong to the same channel;
- and
- wherein the stream parser performs at least one of parsing and altering on the combined first and third portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.