Packet header altering device
AssigneeMarvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
InventorsYaniv Kopelman, Nafea Bishara, Yariv Anafi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packet processor for a network device includes an incoming port that receives a first packet. The first packet includes a data portion, a control portion and a first outgoing port. A control data processing device receives the control portion from the incoming port while the data portion is stored in memory, and transmits the control portion to the first outgoing port. The first outgoing port transmits a first request for the data portion based on the control portion. A header altering device retrieves the data portion from the memory and strips, modifies, and encapsulates the data portion based on the first request.
Claims20
A packet processor for a network device, the packet processor comprising:
- an incoming port configured to receive a packet, wherein the first packet includes a data portion and a control portion;
- a first outgoing port;
- a control data processing device configured to
- i) receive the control portion of the packet from the incoming port while the data portion of the packet is stored in memory, and
- ii) transmit the control portion of the packet to the first outgoing port, wherein prior to any attempt to transmit the data portion of the packet from the first outgoing port, the first outgoing port is configured to transmit a first request for the data portion of the packet based on the control portion of the packet;
- and
- a header altering device configured to i) retrieve the data portion of the packet from the memory, and ii) strip, modify, and encapsulate the data portion of the packet based on requirements specified in the first request.
A method for operating a packet processor for a network device, the method comprising:
- receiving, at an incoming port, a packet that includes a data portion and a control portion;
- while the data portion of the packet is stored in memory, receiving the control portion from the incoming port at a control data processing device located on the packet processor;
- transmitting the control portion of the packet to a first outgoing port;
- prior to any attempt to transmit the data portion of the packet from the first outgoing port, transmitting a first request for the data portion of the packet from the first outgoing port based on the control portion;
- and
- retrieving the data portion from the memory based on the first request;
- and
- stripping, modifying, and encapsulating the data portion of the packet based on requirements specified in the first request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.