EP0376597A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packet selection for packet distribution arrangements
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1989-12-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A packet distribution network including a distributed arrangement for selecting packets based on the availability or unavailability of packet destinations is disclosed. A plurality of input units (108, 109, 110) receive and store packets before distribution. Each input unit also receives a sequence of addresses (via 129) representing packet destinations and a sequence of usage indicators (via 120) each describing the availability or unavailability of an associated one of the destination addresses. The sequence of addresses and the associated usage indicators are provided to the input units such that the address of each packet destination is contemporaneously received by only one input unit. Each input unit selects a stored packet based on the received destination addresses and associated usage indicators and marks previously available destinations unavailable to other input units by modifying the usage indicator associated with a packet destination for which a packet is selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheng Ling Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/30; H04L49/25; H04L49/253; H04L49/254; H04L49/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An arrangement for selecting packets for a plurality of packet destinations comprising: a plurality of input means, each for storing a plurality of packets comprising destination information; means for providing each input means with a plurality of destination addresses each having an associated destination usage indicator; means in each of said input means for selecting one of said stored packets when one of said provided destination addresses matches the destination information of one of said packets stored thereby and the destination usage indicator associated with the matched destination address indicates that the destination represented by the matched destination address is available; and means for conveying packets selected by said selecting means from said input means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An arrangement for selecting packets for a plurality of packet destinations comprising: a plurality of input means, each for storing a plurality of packets comprising destination information; means for providing each input means with a plurality of destination addresses each having an associated destination usage indicator; means in each of said input means for selecting one of said stored packets when one of said provided destination addresses matches the destination information of one of said packets stored thereby and the destination usage indicator associated with the matched destination address indicates that the destination represented by the matched destination address is available; and means for conveying packets selected by said selecting means from said input means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said providing means comprises means for contemporaneously supplying a different one of said plurality of addresses and the usage indicator associated therewith to each input means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The arrangement of claim 1 comprising means for modifying the usage indicator associated with said matching destination address to indicate unavailability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of said means for selecting comprises means for inhibiting the selection of one of said stored packets when the destination usage indicator associated with a provided destination address indicates unavailability.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said means for providing comprises: a count register in each of said input means; means for establishing a different destination address in each of said count registers; means for generating a plurality of select interval signals; and means responsive to each of said select interval signals for adding the same numerical value to the destination address in each of said count registers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The arrangement of claim 5 wherein each of said input means is assigned a unique numerical identifier and said means for establishing comprises means in each of said input means for loading a destination address derived from the unique numerical value assigned thereto into the count register comprised thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The arrangement of claim 6 comprising a means for generating a random number; and each of said means for loading comprises means for loading a destination address derived by adding said random number to said unique numerical identifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said means for generating comprises means for generating a plurality of said select interval signals equal to the number of said packet destinations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The arrangement of claim 5 comprising means for connecting said input means into a closed loop such that each input means is connected to receive destination usage indicators from one other of said input means; and each of said input means comprises means for transmitting destination usage indicators to the input means connected by said connecting means to receive destination usage indicators therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The arrangement of claim 9 wherein each of said means for transmitting comprises means for receiving a destination usage indicator from said connecting means and means responsive to one of said select interval signals for transmitting the received destination usage indicator on said connecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The arrangement of claim 10 wherein each of said means for transmitting comprises means for receiving from said connection means one of said destination usage indicators indicating destination availability; and means responsive to said means for selecting and to one of said select interval signals for transmitting on said connecting means a destination usage indicator identifying one of said destinations to be unavailable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
An arrangement for selecting packets for a plurality of packet destinations, comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of a packets each comprising destination information identifying one of said packet destinations; register means for storing an address representing one of said packet destinations; means for periodically changing the address stored by said register means; selection means for selecting one of said stored packets having destination information identifying the same one of said packet destinations as is represented by the address stored by said storage means; and means for conveying packets selected by said selection means from said storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
An arrangement for selecting packets for a plurality of packet destinations, comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of a packets each comprising destination information identifying one of said packet destinations; register means for storing an address representing one of said packet destinations; means for periodically changing the address stored by said register means; selection means for selecting one of said stored packets having destination information identifying the same one of said packet destinations as is represented by the address stored by said storage means; and means for conveying packets selected by said selection means from said storage means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The arrangement of claim 12 comprising: means for receiving destination usage signals indicating the unavailability of the destination represented by the address stored in said register means; and means responsive to said destination usage signals for inhibiting said selection means from selecting one of said stored packets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 12 comprising: means responsive to the selection of a stored packet by said selection means for generating a prior selection signal; and means responsive to said prior selection signal for inhibiting said selection means from selecting additional ones of said stored packets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The arrangement of claim 14 comprising means for terminating the generation of said prior selection signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said selection means comprises:
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
comparing means for generating a match signal when the address stored by said register means is the same as the destination information of one of said plurality of packets; and means responsive to said match signal for moving one of said stored packets to an output means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
comparing means for generating a match signal when the address stored by said register means is the same as the destination information of one of said plurality of packets; and means responsive to said match signal for moving one of said stored packets to an output means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The arrangement of claim 16 comprising means for receiving a destination usage signal indicating the availability of the destination represented by the address stored by said register means; and means responsive to said match signal for transmitting a destination usage signal indicating the unavailability of one of said packet destinations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The arrangement of claim 16 wherein said comparing means comprises a plurality of comparators each for comparing a different one of said stored packets with the address stored by said register means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.