Abstract:
An interface comprising a plurality of means for serializing parallel data,(10) each serializing means being adapted to output a serial data signal,(70), first means for providing a plurality of independent first parallel data, (10) one first parallel data for each serializing means, second means for providing second parallel data, for dividing the second parallel data into a plurality of third parallel data and for providing a third parallel data (10) to each of the serializing means, and means for aligning and/or synchronizing serial data signals output from the serializing means in order to obtain a predetermined timing relationship between the plurality of serial data signals.
Abstract:
A data switching system comprising one or more I/O elements each comprising a plurality of first input/output ports adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells to and from an external data network, and one or more second input/output ports adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells, means for providing first routing information relating to at least one packet or cell to be output from one or more of the second port(s), each I/O element being adapted to transfer data packets or cells between the first ports and the second port(s) and to output data packets or cells comprising corresponding first routing information from the second port(s), a switching element having a plurality of third input/output ports being adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells, the switching element comprising means for receiving on a third port a data packet or cell as well as the corresponding first routing information, determining, on the basis of the first routing information, port information indicating from which of the third ports the data packet or cell is to be output from the switching element, and outputting the data packet or cell from the third port(s) indicated by the port information, a second port of each I/O element being connected to a third port of the switching element.
Abstract:
A switching unit and a method for operating the same as well as a device for use in the switching unit, where the switching unit comprises a ring-shaped bus for transporting the data packets and a daisy-chain type bus for transporting controlling device information for use in a later switching routing. The two busses are driven synchronously. This systolic nature of the busses ensures optimal bandwidth of the switching.
Abstract:
A networking element (10) adapted to receive and output (12) data packets or frames (50, 70, 90), the element comprising one or more input ports (Fig. 2) or means for receiving a packet or frame comprising a data part (DA) and a preamble part, one or more output ports (12) for outputting at least the data part of a received packet or frame, means for outputting the preamble part of a received packet or frame.
Abstract:
A pipelined packet processor comprises an initialising unit (14), an OSI Layer 2 processing unit (16), an OSI Layer 3 processing unit (18), an OSI Layer 4 processing unit (20), and a director unit (22). It is advantageous to perform lower layer analysis before higher layer analysis. In this situation, a piece of information proposed by both a lower layer analysis and a higher layer analysis may be finally selected as the higher layer analysis result as the higher layer analysis would normally provide the best proposal for the information. Also, lower level analysis may determine whether and which higher analysis should be performed.
Abstract:
A system for switching data packets or frames, the system comprising three or more switching elements each having a number of uplinks and downlinks being inputs/outputs adapted to receive and output data packets or frames, where the switching elements are interconnected so that one or more uplinks of each switching element is connected to one or more uplinks of each of the other switching elements and the switching elements comprise means preventing transfer of data packets or frames between uplinks thereof.
Abstract:
Means are provided for facilitating communication between ports (20) of a switch, a functioning elements (30) and a common bus for transferring data between the elements and the ports. The malfunctioning or redundant element may be rendered inactive by removing power or a colcking signal thereto. Manners of configuring and resting the chip are described as well as the use of the chip for providing lower functionality configurations.
Abstract:
A system for switching data packets or frames, the system comprising three or more switching elements (A, B, C) each having a number of uplinks (Uplinks) and downlinks (Downlinks) being inputs/outputs adapted to receive and output data packets or frames, where the switching elements (A, B, C) are interconnected so that one or more uplinks (Uplinks) of each switching elements (A, B, C) is connected to one or more uplinks (Uplinks) of the other switching elements (A, B, C) and the switching elements (A, B, C) comprise means preventing transfer of data packets or frames between uplinks (Uplinks) thereof.
Abstract:
In flow control, such as in Ethernet communication, the data is divided into queues of different priorities so that, when transmission is enabled, quality of service may be provided by first transmitting data of high priority. A networking element, such as a switch, a router, a bridge or a MAC, is adapted to transfer flow control information without awaiting its own buffer to fill. This reduces latency and facilitates the providing of networking elements without buffers.
Abstract:
Preambles of data packets, frames, or cells, such as Ethernet packets, are used to transport information. This information is received, normally as part of a data packet, by a networking element and output there from, normally also as part of a data packet, in order for this informatin to not only be transferred between two neighbouring networking elements. The preamble information may be altered prior to outputtig and may be "piggy backing" on different data packets before and after a networking element. The preamble information may be used as e.g. a separate communication channel, for network management or as a means of increasing the bandwidth of the network.