公开(公告)号：US07054272B1

公开(公告)日：2006-05-30

申请号：US09616477

申请日：2000-07-14

申请人： Chris R Noel ,  Corey Simons ,  Joseph D Kidder ,  Nicholas A Langrind ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Jonathan D Madsen

发明人： Chris R Noel ,  Corey Simons ,  Joseph D Kidder ,  Nicholas A Langrind ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Jonathan D Madsen

IPC分类号： H04J1/16

CPC分类号： H04L43/50 ,  H04L41/0631 ,  H04L41/0672 ,  H04L41/082 ,  H04L41/0856 ,  H04L43/0811

摘要： The present invention provides an upper layer network device with one or more physical layer data test ports. The data supplied to the test ports reflects the data received by the network device with minimal modification and no upper layer translation or processing, and supplying the data to the test ports does not impact or disrupt the service provided by the network device. Only a small portion of the network device need be operable to send data to the test ports. In addition, the test ports are programmable while the network device is operating and without impacting its operation. Moreover, because the test ports are programmable—that is, they are not dedicated—they may be re-programmed for normal device operation.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了具有一个或多个物理层数据测试端口的上层网络设备。 提供给测试端口的数据反映了网络设备接收到的数据最少的修改，没有上层转换或处理，并且将数据提供给测试端口不会影响或中断网络设备提供的服务。 只有一小部分网络设备需要操作才能将数据发送到测试端口。 此外，测试端口可以在网络设备运行时进行编程，而不会影响其运行。 此外，由于测试端口是可编程的，也就是说，它们不是专用的，它们可能被重新编程为正常的器件操作。

公开(公告)号：US07263597B2

公开(公告)日：2007-08-28

申请号：US09838320

申请日：2001-04-19

申请人： Peter B Everdell ,  Chris R Noel ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A Langrind

发明人： Peter B Everdell ,  Chris R Noel ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A Langrind

IPC分类号： G06F15/76

CPC分类号： H04L47/10 ,  H04L47/125

摘要： The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving transmission of control information within a network device and between multiple connected network devices. Specifically, a control path is included within a network device that is independent of the data path and dedicates control path resources to each distributed processor within the network device. Dedicating resources insures that each processor has sufficient bandwidth on the control plane to transmit control information at high frequencies. This may prevent starvation of data transmissions during periods of high control information transfers and may also reduce the likelihood or further spreading of control information storms when one or more network devices in a network experiences a failure.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供一种用于改善网络设备内和多个连接的网络设备之间的控制信息的传输的方法和装置。 具体地说，控制路径包括在独立于数据路径的网络设备内，并将控制路径资源专用于网络设备内的每个分布式处理器。 专用资源确保每个处理器在控制平面上具有足够的带宽以在高频率传输控制信息。 这可以防止在高控制信息传输期间的数据传输的饥饿，并且还可以降低网络中的一个或多个网络设备遇到故障时控制信息风暴的可能性或进一步扩展。

公开(公告)号：US06760339B1

公开(公告)日：2004-07-06

申请号：US09596055

申请日：2000-06-16

申请人： Chris R. Noel ,  Terrence S. Pearson ,  Joe Whitehouse ,  Corey Simons ,  Brian Branscomb

发明人： Chris R. Noel ,  Terrence S. Pearson ,  Joe Whitehouse ,  Corey Simons ,  Brian Branscomb

IPC分类号： H04L1228

CPC分类号： H04L7/0008 ,  G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/0685 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L41/0803 ,  H04L41/082 ,  H04L41/0859 ,  H04L41/0863 ,  H04L41/22 ,  H04L45/50 ,  H04L69/18 ,  H05K1/14

摘要： The present invention provides a high switching capacity network device in one telco rack including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and an upper layer switch/router subsystem. Instead of providing a single physical layer switch/router subsystem, multiple physical layer switch/router subsystems are provided. Segmenting the physical layer switch/router into multiple, for example, four, subsystems better utilizes routing resources by allowing etches for the physical layer subsystems to be moved away from the center of the mid-plane/back-plane of the network device. Moving the physical layer subsystem etches away from the center of the mid-plane enables the network device to include an upper layer/switch router subsystem with etches toward the center of the mid-plane. Providing a multi-layer network device in one telco rack allows for intelligent layer 1 switching (for example, dynamic network connection set up), allows for one network management system to run both layer 1 and upper layer networks and eliminates grooming fees. Compared with separate layer 1 and upper layer network devices or a multi-layer network device occupying multiple telco racks, a single network device saves valuable telco site space and reduces expenses by sharing overhead such as the chassis, power and cooling.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一个电信机架中的高交换容量网络设备，包括物理层交换机/路由器子系统和上层交换机/路由器子系统。 不提供单个物理层交换机/路由器子系统，而是提供多个物理层交换机/路由器子系统。 将物理层交换机/路由器分段为多个，例如四个子系统通过允许物理层子系统的蚀刻移动远离网络设备的中间平面/背面的中心，更好地利用路由资源。 移动物理层子系统远离中间平面的中心使网络设备能够将具有蚀刻的上层/交换机路由器子系统包括在中间平面的中心。 在一个电信机架中提供多层网络设备可实现智能层1交换（例如动态网络连接建立），允许一个网络管理系统运行第1层和上层网络，并消除修复费用。 与独立的第1层和上层网络设备或占用多个电话机架的多层网络设备相比，单个网络设备可以节省宝贵的电信站点空间，并通过共享开销（如机箱，电源和冷却）降低开销。

公开(公告)号：US07039046B1

公开(公告)日：2006-05-02

申请号：US09613940

申请日：2000-07-11

申请人： Corey Simons ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Colin Bell ,  Chris R. Noel ,  Larry B. Manor ,  Peter B. Everdell

发明人： Corey Simons ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Colin Bell ,  Chris R. Noel ,  Larry B. Manor ,  Peter B. Everdell

IPC分类号： H04L12/50

CPC分类号： H04L49/15 ,  H04L49/254

摘要： The present invention reduces the cost of a minimally configured network device by providing a network device with a distributed switch fabric. Such a network device locates a portion of the switch fabric functionality on each forwarding card allowing the minimal network device configuration to include less than the entire switch fabric functionality. The cost of the minimal configuration is, therefore, reduced allowing network service providers to more quickly recover the initial cost of the network device. As new services are requested, additional functionality, including both forwarding cards and universal port cards may be added to the network device to handle the new requests, and the fees for the new services may be applied to the cost of the additional functionality. Consequently, the cost of the network device more closely tracks the service fees received by network providers.

摘要翻译： 本发明通过向网络设备提供分布式交换结构来降低最低配置的网络设备的成本。 这样的网络设备在每个转发卡上定位交换结构功能的一部分，允许最小的网络设备配置包括少于整个交换结构功能。 因此，最小配置的成本降低，允许网络服务提供商更快地恢复网络设备的初始成本。 当请求新服务时，可以向网络设备添加包括转发卡和通用端口卡的附加功能来处理新的请求，并且新服务的费用可以应用于附加功能的成本。 因此，网络设备的成本更加紧密地跟踪网络提供商接收的服务费用。

公开(公告)号：US5345447A

公开(公告)日：1994-09-06

申请号：US14212

申请日：1993-02-05

申请人： Chris R. Noel

发明人： Chris R. Noel

IPC分类号： G06F13/40 ,  H04L12/931 ,  H04L12/46 ,  H04L12/66

CPC分类号： G06F13/4022 ,  H04L49/351 ,  H04L49/40

摘要： An apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of segments each of which operates in accordance with a bus protocol specifying collision detection and propagation operations. The apparatus includes a switching mechanism including a backplane having P signal paths and P switch ports each with an input and an output. The input of each switch port is connected to a different one of the P signal paths and at each switch port it connects a selectable one or more of the P signal paths to the output for that switch port. The apparatus also includes a plurality of port circuits each connected to a different one of the ports of the switching mechanism. Each port circuit includes an interface to which one of the plurality of segments is connected and through which that port circuit receives a data signal from and transmits a data signal to the attached segment; an auto-partition state machine connected to the interface for that port circuit receiving the data signal from the segment connected to that port circuit's interface and generating therefrom a single output signal on the output line of that port circuit, the auto-partition state machine performing partitioning functions for that port circuit' s segment; and a control state machine receiving a signal over the input for that port circuit and using that signal to implement the collision detection and propagation operations of the bus protocol for the segment connected to that port circuit.

摘要翻译： 一种用于互连多个段的装置，每个段根据指定冲突检测和传播操作的总线协议进行操作。 该装置包括切换机构，其包括具有P个信号路径的背板和各自具有输入和输出的P个开关端口。 每个开关端口的输入连接到不同的P信号路径，并且在每个开关端口处，它将可选择的一个或多个P信号路径连接到该开关端口的输出端。 该装置还包括多个端口电路，每个端口电路都连接到交换机构的不同端口之一。 每个端口电路包括多个段中的一个连接到的接口，并且该端口电路从该接口接收数据信号并向连接的段发送数据信号; 连接到该端口电路的接口的自动分配状态机，从连接到该端口电路的接口的段接收数据信号，并在该端口电路的输出线上产生单个输出信号，自动分割状态机执行 该端口电路段的分区功能; 以及控制状态机，通过该端口电路的输入接收信号，并使用该信号来实现与该端口电路连接的段的总线协议的冲突检测和传播操作。

公开(公告)号：US06332198B1

公开(公告)日：2001-12-18

申请号：US09591193

申请日：2000-06-09

申请人： Corey Simons ,  Terrence S. Pearson ,  Chris R. Noel ,  Joseph D. Kidder ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A. Langrind ,  Daniel J. Sullivan ,  Barbara A. Fox

发明人： Corey Simons ,  Terrence S. Pearson ,  Chris R. Noel ,  Joseph D. Kidder ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A. Langrind ,  Daniel J. Sullivan ,  Barbara A. Fox

IPC分类号： G06F1300

CPC分类号： H04L7/0008 ,  G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/0685 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L41/0816 ,  H04L41/082 ,  H04L41/0859 ,  H04L41/0863 ,  H04L41/22 ,  H04L45/50 ,  H04L69/18

摘要： The present invention provides a method and apparatus for supporting multiple redundancy schemes in a single network device. In one network device, various redundancy schemes are supported including 1:1, 1+1, 1:N, no redundancy or a combination of redundancy schemes. In addition, the redundancy scheme or schemes for physical network device cards (i.e., universal port cards) or ports may be different from the redundancy scheme or schemes for forwarding network device cards. For example, a network manager may want to provide 1:1 or 1+1 redundancy for all universal port cards and/or ports but only 1:N redundancy for each N group of forwarding cards. As another example, the network manager may provide certain customers with 1:1 redundancy on both universal port cards (or ports) and forwarding cards to ensure that customer's network availability while providing other customers, with lower availability requirements, with various other redundancy scheme combinations, for example, 1:1, 1+1, 1:N or no redundancy for port cards or ports and 1:N or no redundancy for forwarding cards. The present invention allows customers having different availability/redundancy needs to be serviced by same network device.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供一种用于在单个网络设备中支持多个冗余方案的方法和装置。 在一个网络设备中，支持各种冗余方案，包括1：1,1 + 1，1：N，无冗余或冗余方案的组合。 此外，用于物理网络设备卡（即，通用端口卡）或端口的冗余方案或方案可以不同于用于转发网络设备卡的冗余方案或方案。 例如，网络管理员可能希望为所有通用端口卡和/或端口提供1：1或1 + 1冗余，但每个N组转发卡只能提供1：N冗余。 另一个例子，网络管理员可以在两个通用端口卡（或端口）和转发卡上为某些客户提供1：1冗余，以确保客户的网络可用性，同时以更低的可用性要求为其他客户提供各种其他冗余方案组合 例如1：1，1 + 1，1：N或端口卡或端口没有冗余，1：N或转发卡的冗余。 本发明允许具有不同可用性/冗余的客户需要由相同的网络设备进行服务。