Switched token ring over ISL (TR-ISL) network
US6704318B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/4604
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique efficiently transports token ring (TR) frames over trunks interconnecting switches of a distributed TR bridge. The TR bridge is characterized by a logical switch fabric that is distributed among the interconnected switches by the trunks, which are preferably interswitch link (ISL) trunks. Each switch includes a Bridge Relay Function (BRF) coupled to a plurality of Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) having a plurality of ports for receiving TR frames over TR segments. The BRF and CRF of the distributed TR bridge operate according to a 2-tier switching model wherein each CRF and BRF is assigned an individual virtual local area network identifier. The technique encapsulates the TR frames in a TR-ISL protocol format that accomodates differences in formats of various TR frames and that comports with the 2-tier switching model of the distributed TR bridge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.