Patent · US Expired

Arrangement for transmitting packet data segments from a media access controller across multiple physical links

US6081523A · kind A · utility

77Cited by
15References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1997
Grant dateJun 27, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/50
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A Gigabit network node having a media access controller outputting packet data at Gigabit rates uses multiple 100 MB/s media interface links coupled to a physical interface to enable implementation of a Gigabit network using low cost data links. A modified reconciliation layer, also referred to as a media interface, receives a data packet from a Gigabit MAC and divides the received data packet into multiple data segments having a prescribed length. The multiple segments are output on the multiple media interface links according to a prescribed output protocol, enabling a corresponding media interface at the destination station to recompile the data packet from the received segments from the multiple transmission paths. The transmission of the segments upon multiple transmission paths provides an efficient load balancing of data traffic among the multiple transmission paths.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.