Communication network having modular switches that enhance data throughput
DCFirst Claim
1. A switch comprising:
- a traffic manager which dispatches a series of read operations to a memory coupled within a data flow path, wherein the memory includes a source address and a destination address of a pair of network nodes routably coupled within the data flow path;
an input port and an output port, wherein the memory comprises packets of data dispatched from the input port; and
a decoder coupled to the input port for decoding only a single field of bits within a plurality of fields which comprise the destination address.
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Abstract
An architecture, system and method are provided for efficiently transferring packets of data across a communication network. The communication network is structured such that there are hierarchical levels of high speed switches existing throughout the network. Distributed routing of packets is achieved by comparing identification numbers of only select switches with the destination address on a field-by-field basis. Not all fields need be compared at all switches. Once routing is achieved within the structured network, transfer to a destination termination device occurs through a single look-up table only when departing the network if multiple termination devices are present at that exit node. The routing operation between termination devices can therefore be achieved using a single mapping operation (if more than one termination device must be selected) and is backward compatible with devices external to the network and protocols used by those devices. An additional protocol layer specific to the structure is wrapped onto the incoming packet protocol using a series of read cycles to a memory which temporarily receives the incoming protocol. The sequence of reads can be quickly achieved without using conventional packet processors and the delayed access times normally attributed to those processors. Each switch thereby serves as a traffic manager, having registers that are configured so as to allow the traffic manager to direct packets of data from an input port to an output port in the quickest, most efficient manner without having to decode the entire destination address or requiring time-consumptive routing tables.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A switch comprising:
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a traffic manager which dispatches a series of read operations to a memory coupled within a data flow path, wherein the memory includes a source address and a destination address of a pair of network nodes routably coupled within the data flow path;
an input port and an output port, wherein the memory comprises packets of data dispatched from the input port; and
a decoder coupled to the input port for decoding only a single field of bits within a plurality of fields which comprise the destination address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication network, comprising:
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a data flow path extending along at least a portion of the communication network; and
a memory placed within the date flow path and adapted for temporarily storing data in one section of the memory and wrapping the data with control information stored in another section of the memory before forwarding the data and the control information from the memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switch, comprising:
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an input port;
an output port;
a buffer and a conductor coupled in parallel within a data flow path between the input port and the output port; and
a configuration register containing bits programmed to select routing of the data flow path across either the buffer or the conductor depending on availability of the output port. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification