Message ring in a switching network
AssigneeT.R. Communications CA, L.L.C.
InventorsShaun Clem, Jimmy Pu, Darrin Patek, Todd Khacherian, Chris Reed
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switching network for efficiently receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames and messages includes a crossbar switch with a plurality of surrounding ports for exclusively switching frames which normally consist of large data streams of 40 to 60 bytes. Then the ports are connected together in a message ring and small data entity messages, for example 4, 8, or 12 bytes, are switched from an input port to an output port around the ring avoiding congestion of the crossbar switch.
Claims36
A switching network for receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames which consist of relatively long strings of bytes and messages which consist of small entities of bytes comprising:
- a plurality of data ports, wherein:
- each of the plurality of data ports can be an input port for sending the frames and the messages, and
- each of the plurality of data ports can be an output port for receiving the frames and the messages;
- a message ring comprising one or more components successively interconnecting one data port to an adjacent data port for passing the messages from an input port, successively through a plurality of intermediate ports to a destination output port;
- and
- a crossbar for connecting the plurality of data ports for switching the frames from an input port to an output port;
- wherein the frames and messages are processed concurrently,
- wherein the messages do not pass through the crossbar.
A switching network for receiving and transmitting data packets having both frames which consist of relatively long strings of bytes and messages which consist of small entities of bytes, comprising:
- a plurality of switch elements, where each switch element comprises:
- a plurality of data ports, wherein:
- each of the plurality of data ports can be an input port for sending the frames and the messages, and
- each of the plurality of data ports can be an output port for receiving the frames and the messages;
- a message ring comprising one or more components successively interconnecting one data port to an adjacent data port for passing the messages from an input port, successively through a plurality of intermediate ports to a destination output port;
- and
- a crossbar for connecting the plurality of data ports for switching the frames from an input port to an output port,
- wherein the frames and messages are processed concurrently,
- wherein the messages do not pass through the crossbar.
A switching network for processing data, comprising:
- a crossbar switch configured to process frames;
- a message ring comprising a controller and a plurality of data ports which are interconnected with each other, the message ring configured to process messages;
- and
- a parser configured to forward the messages to the message ring and to forward the frames to the crossbar, wherein the messages are not forwarded to the crossbar switch.
A method performed by a data switching apparatus, comprising:
- receiving a data packet;
- determining whether the data packet is a message or a frame;
- if the data packet is a frame, causing a crossbar switch to handle the frame;
- and
- if the data packet is a message, causing the message to traverse one or more ports coupled to a message ring and not the crossbar switch.
A system, comprising:
- means for receiving a data packet;
- and
- means for determining whether the data packet is a message or a frame;
- causing a crossbar switch to handle the frame if the data packet is a frame;
- and causing the message to traverse one or more ports coupled to a message ring and not the crossbar switch if the data packet is a message.
A processor-readable memory storing instructions, when executed cause a data switching apparatus to take an action, the instructions comprising:
- instructions for receiving a data packet;
- instructions for determining whether the data packet is a message or a frame;
- if the data packet is a frame, causing a crossbar switch to handle the frame;
- and if the data packet is a message, causing the message to traverse one or more ports coupled to a message ring and not the crossbar switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.