Method for performing a medium access control address lookup in a network switch of an ethernet network
US6615336B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/351
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for performing a MAC address lookup in a network switch of an Ethernet network is provided, using a memory structure including a number of multi-slot buckets. Each of the multi-slot buckets is mapped to a hash key derived from a MAC Address. Each of the multi-slot buckets has a number of forwarding table section, each storing a number of the forwarding table entries. If two forwarding table entries are stored in each forwarding table section of a 4-slot bucket ¼ memory space and ½ access time can be saved. Thus, the lookup for the forwarding table according to the MAC address in the Ethernet switch IC can be effectively performed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.