US5737635A — Variable latency cut through bridge having variab…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting a latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge operating in the computer network, the latency threshold point specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting a latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge operating in the computer network, the latency threshold point specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein said latency threshold point is set to value after a preamble of the data packet.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein the latency threshold point is set to be within a rapid drop off portion of a probability function, the probability function describing the probability that a data packet is bad as a function of the amount of the data packet is bad as a function of the amount of the data packet which has been examined.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The cut through bridge of claim 3, wherein the probability function is empirically determined.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting is operative to set the latency threshold point in response to user manual adjustment of settings on the cut through bridge.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting includes software for setting a value of the latency threshold point.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting includes hardware for setting a value of the latency threshold point.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The cut through bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting is capable of adjusting the latency threshold point to a level at which the portion of the data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet is the entire packet.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for improving the efficiency of a computer network having a plurality of network segments therein, wherein data is communicated in the form of data packets, the method comprising: providing a cut through bridge between the network segments, said cut through bridge being configured to forward each data packet when that data packet is received by the cut through bridge and verified as being one which should be forwarded, said cut through bridge having a variable latency threshold point for determining the portion of that data packet that is received before being verified as one which should be forwarded; setting the variable latency threshold point to an initial value; and dynamically adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of dynamically adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed automatically by the cut through bridge.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for improving the efficiency of a computer network having a plurality of network segments therein, wherein data is communicated in the form of data packets, the method comprising: providing a cut through bridge between the network segments, said cut through bridge being configured to forward each data packet when that data packet is received by the cut through bridge and verified as being one which should be forwarded, said cut through bridge having a variable latency threshold point for determining the portion of that data packet that is received before being verified as one which should be forwarded; setting the variable latency threshold point to an initial value; and dynamically adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of dynamically adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed automatically by the cut through bridge.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the variable latency threshold point is dynamically adjusted to a value such that any runts will be rejected and thereby not forwared by said cut through bridge.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the variable latency threshold point is dynamically adjusted according to empirically gathered data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 9, wherein the variable latency threshold point is dynamically adjusted as a function of a probability line, the probability line being represented by a graph of a probability value that the data packet should not be forwarded versus an amount of the data packet that has been examined within said cut through bridge.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 12, wherein the variable latency threshold point is dynamically adjusted to within a rapid drop off portion of the probability line, the rapid drop of portion being a portion of the probability line wherein the probability value of the probability line drops markedly toward zero.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for forwarding data packets with a cut through bridge connecting at least two computer network segments, the method comprising: setting a variable latency point within the cut through bridge to an initial value, said variable latency threshold point determining the portion of each data packet that is received by the cut through bridge before being verified as one which should be forwarded; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed dynamically.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for forwarding data packets with a cut through bridge connecting at least two computer network segments, the method comprising: setting a variable latency point within the cut through bridge to an initial value, said variable latency threshold point determining the portion of each data packet that is received by the cut through bridge before being verified as one which should be forwarded; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed dynamically.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said variable latency threshold point is set to value after a preamble of the data packet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said variable latency threshold point is set such that essentially all runts will be rejected before said variable latency threshold point is reached in each data packet, a runt being an incomplete data packet resulting from an aborted attempt to transit that data packet.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting is performed by adjusting said variable latency threshold point according to data obtained during the operation of the cut through bridge.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting, is performed by setting said variable latency threshold point by software from a computer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the computer is connected to a computer network segment through the cut through bridge.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 18, wherein the computer retains information concerning the packets for optimizing the position of said variable latency threshold point.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said variable latency threshold point is adjusted according to the demands of the computer network segments.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said variable latency threshold point is adjusted according to a calculation of an acquisition time of an application.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 14, wherein the variable latency threshold point is set according to empirically determined data gathered during operation of the cut through bridge.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the variable latency threshold point to a third value, which is different from said initial value, by a user's manual adjustment of settings on the cut through bridge.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 150 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the data packets having data fields, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; means for adjusting a latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge is operating in the computer network, the latency threshold point specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically without affecting the length of the data field in the data packet.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 150 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the data packets having data fields, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; means for adjusting a latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge is operating in the computer network, the latency threshold point specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically without affecting the length of the data field in the data packet.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 157 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting the latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge is operating in the computer network such that the latency threshold point, specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, is set at any level between and including the beginning of a data packet and the last bit of said data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 157 words

A cut through bridge for connecting at least two computer network segments, having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data transmission devices wherein data packets are transmitted over the data transmission devices, the cut through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporarily holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting the latency threshold point of the buffer while the cut through bridge is operating in the computer network such that the latency threshold point, specifying that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, is set at any level between and including the beginning of a data packet and the last bit of said data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold point dynamically.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cut through bridge of claim 26, wherein the means for adjusting includes software for setting a value of the latency threshold point.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cut through bridge of claim 26, wherein the means for adjusting includes hardware for setting a value of the latency threshold point.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 137 words

A method for forwarding data packets with a cut through bridge connecting at least two computer network segments, the method comprising; setting a variable latency point within the cut through bridge to an initial value, said variable latency threshold point determining the portion of each data packet that is received by the cut through bridge before being verified as one which should be forwarded; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed dynamically, and wherein the first and second values of the variable latency threshold point may be any level between and including the beginning of a data packet and the last bit of said data packet.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 137 words

A method for forwarding data packets with a cut through bridge connecting at least two computer network segments, the method comprising; setting a variable latency point within the cut through bridge to an initial value, said variable latency threshold point determining the portion of each data packet that is received by the cut through bridge before being verified as one which should be forwarded; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed dynamically, and wherein the first and second values of the variable latency threshold point may be any level between and including the beginning of a data packet and the last bit of said data packet.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 29, wherein the adjusting is performed by adjusting said variable latency threshold point according to data obtained during the operation of the cut through bridge.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 29, wherein the adjusting, is performed by setting said variable latency threshold point by software from a computer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 31, wherein the computer is connected to a computer network segment through the cut through bridge.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 31, wherein the computer retains information concerning the packets for optimizing the position of said variable latency threshold point.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 29, wherein said variable latency threshold point is adjusted according to the demands of the computer network segments.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-06	2001-10-06	2002-04-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-06	2005-10-06	2006-04-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-06	2009-10-06	2010-04-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Variable latency cut through bridge having variable latency threshold point being configured dynamically for forwarding packets while the bridge is operating

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