Forwarding table minimisation in ethernet switches
US8498297B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 26, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/354
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An Ethernet switch for use in an Ethernet network comprises a set of ingress ports for receiving data frames and a set of egress ports. A memory is associated with each ingress port and stores forwarding information indicating one or more of the egress ports to which data frames received by that ingress port should be forwarded. A control or management interface receives information about a network connection established, or to be established, through the switch. A switch controller causes forwarding information to be stored in a memory associated with a first ingress port which the network connection will use, on the basis of the received information about a network connection. Forwarding information is not stored in a memory associated with a second of the set of ingress ports which the network connection will not use. Preferably, the switch controller causes forwarding information to be stored only in a memory associated with the first ingress port which the network connection will use and not to be stored in a memory associated with any of the other ingress ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.