Multipoint-to-point arbitration in a network switch
US5982776A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S370/905
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for arbitrating between streams of ATM cells, or sources for a connection, on multiple input port processors vying for an opportunity to be transmitted as a fixed bandwidth, or allocated, connection on a single output port through a network switch. The network switch maintains a plurality of input port processors, at least one output port, and input and output buffers associated with the respective input and output ports. Streams of ATM cells enter the network switch as sources for a connection through the multiple input port processors and are buffered in the input buffers. The ATM cells are then routed from the input buffers to an output buffer in the output port. The network switch also provides a multipoint topology controller (MTC) and a bandwidth arbiter (BA) for performing the arbitration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.