Testing forwarding states on multiple pipelines of a network device
US10868748B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2101/622
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A source network device can inject a probe into any one of multiple pipelines by supplying control bits for controlling a demultiplexer through which the probe passes. The control bits of the probe are coupled to the demultiplexer select lines so as to couple an input port of the demultiplexer to one of multiple output ports. As a result, an agent operating on the source network device can test any desired pipeline. In a one-hop embodiment, the source network device redirects the probe back to the agent without transmission to a neighbor. A two-hop embodiment uses a neighbor device to reflect the probe back to the source device in order to test forwarding states of the source network device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.