Processor for packet switching between cell streams with optional virtual channel and channel identification modification

A processor comprising:

• assembly circuitry configured to assemble outgoing cells from packets, each outgoing cell comprising at least a portion of a packet;
• parsing circuitry coupled to the assembly circuitry, the parsing circuitry configured to examine incoming cells, each incoming cell comprising at least a portion of one or more packets, and to reassemble packets from at least a portion of one or more of the incoming cells, wherein the parsing circuitry is further configured to select reassembled packets to be switched to the assembly circuitry wherein each reassembled packet corresponds to an incoming ATM virtual channel identification;
• routing circuitry configured to determine whether the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced and replace the ATM virtual channel identification for the particular reassembled packet when it is determined that the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced;
• and
• switching circuitry configured to couple the selected reassembled packets to the assembly circuitry, wherein an ATM virtual channel for the outgoing cell is different than an ATM virtual channel corresponding to the reassembled packet, such that said at least a portion of said reassembled packets in said outgoing cells are retransmitted through said ATM virtual channel for the outgoing cell that is different than said ATM virtual channel corresponding to the reassembled packet.

A method for use in a processor for switching packets between streams of cells, the method comprising the steps of:

• assembling outgoing cells from packets, one or more of the outgoing cells comprising at least a portion of a reassembled packet, wherein each outgoing cell is associated with an outgoing ATM virtual channel, and wherein each reassembled packet corresponds to an incoming ATM virtual channel identification, the outgoing cells to be transmitted on an outgoing cell stream and the reassembled packets reassembled from incoming cells received from an incoming cell stream;
• determining whether the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced;
• replacing the ATM virtual channel identification for the particular reassembled packet when it is determined that the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced;
• and
• selecting the outgoing ATM virtual channel for a given outgoing cell comprising at least a portion of a given reassembled packet so that the ATM virtual channel for the selected outgoing cell is different than an incoming ATM virtual channel corresponding to the given reassembled packet, such that said at least a portion of said reassembled packets in said outgoing cells are retransmitted through said selected ATM virtual channel for the selected outgoing cell that is different than said incoming ATM virtual channel corresponding to the given reassembled packet.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable recordable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions for use in conjunction with a processor, the medium storing one or more software programs for switching packets between streams of cells, wherein the one or more programs when executed implement the steps of:

• assembling outgoing cells from packets, one or more of the outgoing cells comprising at least a portion of a reassembled packet, wherein each outgoing cell is associated with an outgoing ATM virtual channel, and wherein each reassembled packet corresponds to an incoming ATM virtual channel identification, the outgoing cells to be transmitted on an outgoing cell stream and the reassembled packets reassembled from incoming cells received from an incoming cell stream;
• determining whether the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced;
• replacing the ATM virtual channel identification for the particular reassembled packet when it is determined that the ATM virtual channel identification for a particular reassembled packet is to be replaced;
• and
• selecting the outgoing ATM virtual channel for a given outgoing cell comprising at least a portion of a given reassembled packet so that the ATM virtual channel for the selected outgoing cell is different than an incoming ATM virtual channel corresponding to the given reassembled packet, such that said at least a portion of said reassembled packets in said outgoing cells are retransmitted through said selected ATM virtual channel for the selected outgoing cell that is different than said incoming ATM virtual channel corresponding to the given reassembled packet.