Method and apparatus for performing cut-through virtual circuit merging
US6233243A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/28
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing virtual connection merging in an output port of a network switch are disclosed. In the event no completely assembled packets have been received and scheduled for transmission, a partially received packet is selected for cut-through transmission prior to receipt of all cells comprising the packet. Transmission of the selected packet is initiated and a timer is started. If the timer expires prior to the receipt of an end of packet indication for the packet for which transmission has commenced, and end of packet signal is generated and transmitted and the transmission of additional cells for the cut-through packet is aborted. In this manner, delays associated with packet reassembly may be avoided and buffer sizes of reassembly buffers may be reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.