Distributed processing ethernet switch with adaptive cut-through switching
US5521913A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 28, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/251
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A packet switching system includes at least two network cards each receiving data packets via a plurality of associated ports, a system card, and an interconnect for connecting the system card to the network cards. Each one of the network cards comprises a plurality of port controllers for sending and receiving packets to and from a corresponding port and a packet processor for buffering packets received by the port controllers. The packet processor then sends destination addresses to the system card via the interconnect and receives forwarding information from the system card. The processor then forwards the packet in response to the forwarding information. The processor begins forwarding the packet in response to the forwarding information before the packet has been entirely received and checks the integrity of the packet by reference to check sum information contained in the packet as in cut-through switching. Future packets from the source port have their validity checked prior to forwarding in response to receiving an invalid packet from the source port as in store and forward switching.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.