公开(公告)号：US06639910B1

公开(公告)日：2003-10-28

申请号：US09574343

申请日：2000-05-20

申请人： Roland T. Provencher ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A. Langrind ,  Peter B. Everdell

发明人： Roland T. Provencher ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Nicholas A. Langrind ,  Peter B. Everdell

IPC分类号： H04L1228

CPC分类号： H04L7/0008 ,  G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/0685 ,  H04L41/0803 ,  H04L41/22 ,  H04L69/18

摘要： The present invention provides a network device, such as a network switch or a router, having a high degree of modularity and reliability. The network device includes a data plane and a control plane. The data plane relays datagrams between a pair of receive and transmit network interface ports. The control plane runs management and control operations, such as routing and policing algorithms which provide the data plane with instructions on how to relay cell/packets/frames. Further, the control plane includes an internal control device that is primarily responsible for managing the internal resources of the network device, and a separate external control device that is primarily responsible for operations relating to the interfacing of the network device with an external environment.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了具有高度模块化和可靠性的网络设备，例如网络交换机或路由器。 网络设备包括数据平面和控制平面。 数据平面在一对接收和发送网络接口端口之间中继数据报。 控制平面运行管理和控制操作，例如向数据平面提供关于如何中继小区/分组/帧的指令的路由和监管算法。 此外，控制平面包括主要负责管理网络设备的内部资源的内部控制设备，以及主要负责与网络设备与外部环境的接口相关的操作的单独的外部控制设备。

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：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：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。

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：US07023845B1

公开(公告)日：2006-04-04

申请号：US09595709

申请日：2000-06-16

申请人： Corey Simons ,  Peter B. Everdell ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Daniel I. Westerberg

发明人： Corey Simons ,  Peter B. Everdell ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Daniel I. Westerberg

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L43/0811 ,  G06F11/1433 ,  G06F11/1458 ,  G06F11/1469 ,  G06F11/1482 ,  G06F11/203 ,  G06F2201/80 ,  H04L41/0213 ,  H04L41/0233 ,  H04L41/0659 ,  H04L41/0681 ,  H04L41/0803 ,  H04L43/00 ,  H04L43/16 ,  H04L49/00 ,  H04L69/32 ,  H04L69/40

摘要： The present invention provides a network device that fully utilizes the available space in a standard telco rack through the use of multiple mid-planes. Full utilization of available space allows a high switching capacity network device including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and upper layer switch/router subsystems to be fit in one telco rack. Inter-mid-plane connections may be provided by connecting switch fabric cards and/or control processor cards to each of the mid-planes. 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 control 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： 本发明提供了一种通过使用多个中间平面来充分利用标准电话机架中的可用空间的网络设备。 充分利用可用空间允许包括物理层交换机/路由器子系统和上层交换机/路由器子系统的高交换容量网络设备适合于一个电信机架。 可以通过将交换结构卡和/或控制处理器卡连接到每个中间平面来提供中间平面连接。 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控制第一层和上层网络，并消除整理费用。 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：US20120014377A1

公开(公告)日：2012-01-19

申请号：US13039199

申请日：2011-03-02

申请人： Thomas Kirkegaard Joergensen ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Kristian Ehlers

发明人： Thomas Kirkegaard Joergensen ,  Brian Branscomb ,  Kristian Ehlers

IPC分类号： H04J3/06 ,  H04L12/66

CPC分类号： H04L43/106 ,  H04J3/0697 ,  H04L43/0852

摘要： A system handles timing information within a packet-switched network. The system classifies packets for processing depending on the packet type. After classification, a new timestamp value may be produced depending on the packet classification. The new timestamp value may use a timestamp value from the received packet, a value from a local clock, and an offset value. The timestamp value may be written into the packet, depending on the packet classification, and checksum-type fields may additionally be updated in the packet. In some embodiments, multiple physical layer circuits are integrated with a local clock circuit.

摘要翻译： 系统处理分组交换网络内的定时信息。 系统根据数据包类型对数据包进行分类处理。 在分类之后，可能根据分组分类产生新的时间戳值。 新的时间戳值可以使用来自接收到的分组的时间戳值，来自本地时钟的值和偏移值。 可以根据分组分类将时间戳值写入分组，并且可以在分组中另外更新校验和类型字段。 在一些实施例中，多个物理层电路与本地时钟电路集成。

公开(公告)号：US06876652B1

公开(公告)日：2005-04-05

申请号：US09614187

申请日：2000-07-11

申请人： Colin Bell ,  Brian Branscomb

发明人： Colin Bell ,  Brian Branscomb

IPC分类号： G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/06 ,  H04L7/00 ,  H04L12/24 ,  H04L12/56 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L12/50

CPC分类号： H04L7/0008 ,  G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/0685 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L41/0803 ,  H04L41/085 ,  H04L41/22 ,  H04L45/50 ,  H04L69/18

摘要： The present invention provides a central switch fabric timing subsystem and distributed switch fabric timing subsystems. Distributed switch fabric subsystems reduce 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： 本发明提供了一种中央交换矩阵定时子系统和分布式交换结构定时子系统。 分布式交换矩阵子系统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：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：US06868092B1

公开(公告)日：2005-03-15

申请号：US09613682

申请日：2000-07-11

申请人： Colin Bell ,  Brian Branscomb

发明人： Colin Bell ,  Brian Branscomb

IPC分类号： G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/06 ,  H04L7/00 ,  H04L12/24 ,  H04L12/56 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L12/28

CPC分类号： H04L7/0008 ,  G06F1/14 ,  H04J3/0685 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L41/0803 ,  H04L41/085 ,  H04L41/22 ,  H04L45/50 ,  H04L69/18

摘要： The present invention provides a network device including a central timing subsystem for distributing one or more timing reference signals including a main timing signal and an embedded timing signal. Embedding one timing signal within another reduces the routing resources necessary to route the timing signal(s) within the network device. In addition, one central timing system, as opposed to two or more, may be used to provide multiple different synchronous clock signals. In one embodiment, the main timing signal is used for network data transfer while the embedded signal is used at least for processor synchronization. Consequently, a separate central timing subsystem is not required for generation and distribution of processor timing reference signals, and separate routing resources are not required for the processor timing reference signals. In addition, separate local timing subsystems for both the central timing and processor timing are not necessary. Embedding the processor timing reference signal within a highly accurate, redundant external timing reference signal also provides a highly accurate and redundant processor timing reference signal, and having a common local timing subsystem is more efficient resulting in less design time, less debug time, less risk, design re-use and simulation re-use.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种网络设备，其包括用于分发一个或多个定时参考信号的中央定时子系统，包括主定时信号和嵌入定时信号。 在其中嵌入一个定时信号减少了在网络设备内路由定时信号所需的路由资源。 此外，与两个或更多个相反的一个中央定时系统可以用于提供多个不同的同步时钟信号。 在一个实施例中，主定时信号用于网络数据传输，而嵌入信号至少用于处理器同步。 因此，处理器定时参考信号的生成和分配不需要单独的中央定时子系统，并且处理器定时参考信号不需要单独的路由资源。 此外，不需要用于中央定时和处理器时序的单独的本地时序子系统。 将处理器定时参考信号嵌入高度精确，冗余的外部定时参考信号中还提供高度精确和冗余的处理器定时参考信号，并且具有公共本地时序子系统更有效，从而减少设计时间，减少调试时间，减少风险 ，设计重用和模拟重用。