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US 8,027,341 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.
Claims13
A network switch comprising:
- an internal address resolution unit configured to perform address resolution;
- and
- a detection unit configured to detect if an external address resolution unit is coupled to the network switch,
- wherein:
- if the external address resolution unit is not detected by the detection unit, the network switch is further configured to utilize the internal address resolution unit to perform address resolution;
- and
- if the external address resolution unit is detected by the detection unit;
- the network switch is further configured to:
- transmit a received data packet to the external address resolution unit;
- and
- receive, after processing by the external address resolution unit, the processed data packet from the external address resolution unit.
8 more elements
A method of processing a data packet in a network switch comprising:
- receiving a data packet at an input port of the network switch;
- determining, by the network switch, whether a connection between the network switch and an external address resolution unit is present;
- performing, by the network switch, an address resolution function in absence of the external address resolution unit;
- and
- in the event the connection between the network switch and the external address resolution unit is present:
- transmitting, by the network switch via an interface of the network switch, the data packet to the external address resolution unit;
- and
- receiving, after processing by the external address resolution unit, the data packet at the interface from the external address resolution unit.
5 more elements
A network switch comprising:
- internal address resolution means for performing address resolution;
- and
- detection means for detecting if an external address resolution unit is coupled to the network switch,
- wherein:
- if the external address resolution unit is not detected by the detection means, the network switch is further configured to utilize the internal address resolution means to perform address resolution;
- and
- if the external address resolution unit is detected by the detection means;
- the network switch is further configured to:
- transmit a received data packet to the external address resolution unit;
- and
- receive, after processing by the external address resolution unit, the processed data packet from the external address resolution unit.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.