Functional separation of internal and external controls in network devices
US6639910B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/0803
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a network device, such as a network switch or a router, having a high degree of modularity and reliability. The network device includes a data plane and a control plane. The data plane relays datagrams between a pair of receive and transmit network interface ports. The control plane runs management and control operations, such as routing and policing algorithms which provide the data plane with instructions on how to relay cell/packets/frames. Further, the control plane includes an internal control device that is primarily responsible for managing the internal resources of the network device, and a separate external control device that is primarily responsible for operations relating to the interfacing of the network device with an external environment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.