Flow integrity for path transitioning data switch
US6944158B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/40
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data switch includes multiple switching modules interconnected over a backplane. The data switch maintains flow integrity while path transitioning. The flow integrity can be maintained by temporarily disabling one or more of the switching modules from transmitting data units over the backplane for a flow undergoing a path transition. The disable condition is imposed when the path transition is commenced, and is lifted after the path transition is completed and an interval has passed ensuring that all data units for the flow transmitted to the backplane prior to imposing the disable condition have cleared the backplane. The backplane includes a multicast fabric and a unicast fabric, wherein flow path transitions are made from the multicast fabric to the unicast fabric upon source learning. All switching modules are temporarily disabled from transmitting data units having as a destination address an address undergoing source learning to the backplane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.