Unicast, multicast, and broadcast method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of processing data units according to cast type in a telecommunications bridge/router, such data units including a header portion with a source address and a destination address, comprising the steps of:
- determining in a first logic circuit, whether the cast type of the data unit is unicast,determining, in a second logic circuit, the source address of the data unit;
in a third logic circuit, for a unicast data unit, employing the source address and destination address to obtain a transmit port indicator from memory, and directing the unicast data unit to the port indicated by the transmit port indicator;
employing, for a non-unicast data unit, the source address and destination address to obtain a first port mask indicating valid ports for receipt of the data unit and a second port mask indicating valid ports for transmission of the data unit from memory, combining the first and second port masks to generate a third port mask and a fourth port mask, and directing the non-unicast data unit to the ports indicated by the third and fourth port masks, wherein said first and second port masks are combined in a logical AND operation to generate the third port mask for bridging.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
At least a portion of the data units in a bridge/router are processed by logic circuits according to cast type. The cast type, source address and destination address of an incoming data unit are determined by examining the header. For a unicast data unit, the source address and destination address are employed to obtain a transmit port indicator from memory, and the unicast data unit is directed to the port indicated by the transmit port indicator. For a non-unicast data unit, the source address and destination address are employed to obtain a first port mask that indicates valid ports for receipt of the data unit and a second port mask that indicates valid ports for transmission of the data unit from memory. The first and second port masks are combined to generate a third port mask, and the non-unicast data unit is directed to the ports indicated by the third port mask.
58 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method of processing data units according to cast type in a telecommunications bridge/router, such data units including a header portion with a source address and a destination address, comprising the steps of:
-
determining in a first logic circuit, whether the cast type of the data unit is unicast, determining, in a second logic circuit, the source address of the data unit; in a third logic circuit, for a unicast data unit, employing the source address and destination address to obtain a transmit port indicator from memory, and directing the unicast data unit to the port indicated by the transmit port indicator; employing, for a non-unicast data unit, the source address and destination address to obtain a first port mask indicating valid ports for receipt of the data unit and a second port mask indicating valid ports for transmission of the data unit from memory, combining the first and second port masks to generate a third port mask and a fourth port mask, and directing the non-unicast data unit to the ports indicated by the third and fourth port masks, wherein said first and second port masks are combined in a logical AND operation to generate the third port mask for bridging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneePlectrum LLC
-
Original Assignee3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
-
InventorsCiampa, Robert A., Radogna, Thomas V., Ross, Ryan T., Lemaire, Thomas A., Flanders, John A., Bailey, Brian W., Townsend, William D.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Vu, Huy D.
-
Assistant Examiner(s)TRINH, DUNG N
-
Application NumberUS08/927,914Time in Patent Office1,090 DaysField of Search370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/402, 370/409US Class Current370/392CPC Class CodesH04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwar...
