System for sharing a network port of a network interface including a link for connection to another shared network interface
US8031731B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/354
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for sharing a network port of a network interface includes a plurality of processing units, a first network interface unit coupled to a first portion of the plurality of processing units, a second network interface unit coupled to a different portion of the plurality of processing units, and a link coupled between the first and second network interface units. The first and second network interface units each includes an independently controllable network port for connection to a network, and a virtual interface. The network port includes a shared MAC unit, a link interface, and control logic, which may selectably route packets between processing units of the first portion of the plurality of processing units and the network via the link and the network port of the second network interface unit. The virtual interface may include a plurality of independent programmable virtual MAC units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.