Packet data traffic management apparatus
First Claim
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1. A network traffic management device for coupling a host device to a packet data network, the network traffic management device comprising:
- a first network port interface and a second network port interface, wherein each network port interface includes a port input output (I/O) controller and port I/O controller firmware memory, and is operable to receive and transmit network frames of packetized information via the packet data network; and
a host interface for direct connection to the host device, the host interface including a host I/O controller and host I/O controller firmware memory, wherein the host interface is operable to transfer data directly between the network traffic management device and the host device;
wherein the port I/O controller of each network port interface and the host I/O controller are configured to operate the network port interface and the host interface, respectively, according to a first specified type of Ethernet protocol when a first firmware is loaded into each of the port I/O controller firmware memory and the host I/O controller firmware memory, and operate the network port interface and the host interface, respectively according to a second specified type of Ethernet protocol when a second firmware is loaded into each of the port I/O controller firmware memory of the each network port interface and the host I/O controller firmware memory.
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Abstract
A packet data network traffic management device comprises a plurality of ports comprising at least a first port, a second port, and a third port; and a plurality of deterministic multi-threaded deterministic micro-controllers, each of the micro-controllers associated with a corresponding one of the ports to control packet data through the corresponding port; and the plurality of multi-threaded deterministic micro-controllers cooperatively operate to selectively communicate data packets between the plurality of ports.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network traffic management device for coupling a host device to a packet data network, the network traffic management device comprising:
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a first network port interface and a second network port interface, wherein each network port interface includes a port input output (I/O) controller and port I/O controller firmware memory, and is operable to receive and transmit network frames of packetized information via the packet data network; and a host interface for direct connection to the host device, the host interface including a host I/O controller and host I/O controller firmware memory, wherein the host interface is operable to transfer data directly between the network traffic management device and the host device; wherein the port I/O controller of each network port interface and the host I/O controller are configured to operate the network port interface and the host interface, respectively, according to a first specified type of Ethernet protocol when a first firmware is loaded into each of the port I/O controller firmware memory and the host I/O controller firmware memory, and operate the network port interface and the host interface, respectively according to a second specified type of Ethernet protocol when a second firmware is loaded into each of the port I/O controller firmware memory of the each network port interface and the host I/O controller firmware memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling operation of a network traffic management device of a packet data network, the method comprising:
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loading firmware into a packet memory of the network traffic management device using at least one of a network port interface or a host interface of the network traffic management device by granting access to the packet memory and a control register of the host interface as addressable memory space; and forwarding the firmware, according to a value stored in the control register in response to reset of the network traffic management device, from the packet memory to firmware memory of a first network port input output (I/O) controller, a second network port I/O controller and a host I/O controller of the network traffic management device, wherein the network port and host I/O controllers are configurable to operate according to a plurality of types of Ethernet protocols and the forwarded firmware configures the I/O controllers to operate according to a first specified type of Ethernet protocol of the plurality of types of Ethernet protocols. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network traffic management device for coupling a host device to a packet data network, the network traffic management device comprising:
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means for loading firmware into a packet memory of the network traffic management device, wherein the means for loading the firmware grants access to the packet memory and a control register as addressable memory space; and means for forwarding the firmware, according to a value stored in the control register and in response to reset of the network traffic management device, from the packet memory to firmware memory of a first network port input output (I/O) controller, a second network port I/O controller and a host I/O controller of the network traffic management device, wherein the I/O controllers are configurable to operate according to a plurality of types of Ethernet protocols and the forwarded firmware configures the I/O controllers to operate according to a first specified type of Ethernet protocol of the plurality of types of Ethernet protocols. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification