US5434855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for selective interleaving in a cell-switched network
Assignee: Enterasys Networks Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-28
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2014-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A novel mechanism prevents interleaving of packet cells from different source nodes on the same multicast port group at switches of a multicast virtual circuit in a cell-switched network: however, different cells bound for different multicast port groups may be interleaved. The mechanism comprises specific routing information that is stored in each multicast group port entry of a forwarding table located within each switch of the multicast virtual circuit. The forwarding table also stores information relating to each multicast port group including a virtual circuit value for each port of the multicast group. The specific routing information is provided for each multicast port group entry to notify the switch when data traffic for a particular packet is pending through a port of the multicast group and when that data traffic ceases, i.e., when the "end-of-packet" is reached. This ensures that the packets may be correctly reassembled at the destination nodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Radia J. Perlman
- 👤 Charles W. Kaufman
- 👤 Robert E. Thomas
- 👤 William R. Hawe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/10; H04L49/104; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5619; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5649; H04L2012/565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for inhibiting interleave of packet cells transferred from a plurality of source nodes to a plurality of destination nodes by way of a multicast virtual circuit in a cell-switched network, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of links connected to each of said source nodes and destination nodes; and at least one switch for interconnecting said links, said switch having a plurality of ports associated with a multicast port group and corresponding to said destination nodes, said switch further having a table with entries for storing specific routing information associated with said multicast port group, said specific routing information indicating when packet cells from one of said source nodes are passing through one of said ports to remaining ones of said ports of said multicast group, whereby said switch, in response to said specific routing information, inhibits packet cells transferred from another of said source nodes from passing through any of said ports of said multicast port group while said packet cells from said one of said source nodes are passing through said ports of said multicast port group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for inhibiting interleave of packet cells transferred from a plurality of source nodes to a plurality of destination nodes by way of a multicast virtual circuit in a cell-switched network, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of links connected to each of said source nodes and destination nodes; and at least one switch for interconnecting said links, said switch having a plurality of ports associated with a multicast port group and corresponding to said destination nodes, said switch further having a table with entries for storing specific routing information associated with said multicast port group, said specific routing information indicating when packet cells from one of said source nodes are passing through one of said ports to remaining ones of said ports of said multicast group, whereby said switch, in response to said specific routing information, inhibits packet cells transferred from another of said source nodes from passing through any of said ports of said multicast port group while said packet cells from said one of said source nodes are passing through said ports of said multicast port group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said specific routing information further indicates when passing of said packet cells through said one of said ports ceases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said specific routing information comprises a state bit provided for each multicast port group entry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said specific routing information comprises a flag provided for each multicast port group entry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said flag indicates passing of said packet cells through one of said ports ceases in response to an end-of-packet cell received at said one of said ports.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for inhibiting interleave of packet cells transferred from a plurality of source nodes to a plurality of destination nodes by way of a multicast virtual circuit in a cell-switched network having a plurality of links connected to each of said source nodes and destination nodes, said network including at least one switch for interconnecting said links, said switch having a plurality of ports associated with a multicast port group and corresponding to said destination nodes, said method comprising the steps of: storing specific routing information associated with said multicast port group in entries of a table of said switch; asserting said specific routing information to indicate when packet cells from one of said source nodes are passing through one of said ports to remaining ones of said ports of said multicast group; and inhibiting, in response to said asserted specific routing information, packet cells transferred from another of said source nodes from passing through any of said ports of said multicast port group while said packet cells from said one of said source nodes are passing through said ports of said multicast port group.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for inhibiting interleave of packet cells transferred from a plurality of source nodes to a plurality of destination nodes by way of a multicast virtual circuit in a cell-switched network having a plurality of links connected to each of said source nodes and destination nodes, said network including at least one switch for interconnecting said links, said switch having a plurality of ports associated with a multicast port group and corresponding to said destination nodes, said method comprising the steps of: storing specific routing information associated with said multicast port group in entries of a table of said switch; asserting said specific routing information to indicate when packet cells from one of said source nodes are passing through one of said ports to remaining ones of said ports of said multicast group; and inhibiting, in response to said asserted specific routing information, packet cells transferred from another of said source nodes from passing through any of said ports of said multicast port group while said packet cells from said one of said source nodes are passing through said ports of said multicast port group.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |