Router
First Claim
1. A router for routing packets, each packet consisting of a header part and a data part, in accordance with a destination address that is specified in said header part, comprising:
- a priority level distinguishing means for distinguishing the priority level of a packet by referring to header information in the header of the packet;
a packet distribution processing unit for determining an output line to be used for sending out packets;
a first packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a first output line; and
a second packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a second output line;
wherein said packet distribution processing unit determines to send out a first string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as first-priority packets with a first destination address specified in their header part over said first output line, to send out a second string of packets distinguished as first-priority packets by said priority level distinguishing means with a second destination address specified in their header part over said second output line, and to distribute a third string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as second-priority packets between said first output line and said second output line at a distribution ratio that is determined based on the redundant bandwidth of said first output line and the redundant bandwidth of said second output line.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A router comprising a priority level distinguishing means for distinguishing the priority level of a packet by referring to the information contained in the header of the packet, a routing table where an output path comprising one or more output lines can be mapped to each level of priority, an output path determining unit that searches the routing table and determines an output path to be used for sending out packets, and a preferential delivery controller that executes delivery control in accordance with the priority level for each output line corresponding to the output path. In response to a fault state in a preferred output line, the router can reroute high priority packets over an alternative output line while maintaining priority. The router may also calculate a distribution ratio to determine the optimal load for each output line for a given packet priority.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A router for routing packets, each packet consisting of a header part and a data part, in accordance with a destination address that is specified in said header part, comprising:
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a priority level distinguishing means for distinguishing the priority level of a packet by referring to header information in the header of the packet;
a packet distribution processing unit for determining an output line to be used for sending out packets;
a first packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a first output line; and
a second packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a second output line;
wherein said packet distribution processing unit determines to send out a first string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as first-priority packets with a first destination address specified in their header part over said first output line, to send out a second string of packets distinguished as first-priority packets by said priority level distinguishing means with a second destination address specified in their header part over said second output line, and to distribute a third string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as second-priority packets between said first output line and said second output line at a distribution ratio that is determined based on the redundant bandwidth of said first output line and the redundant bandwidth of said second output line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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13. A router for routing packets, each packet consisting of a header part and a data part, in accordance with a destination address that is specified in said header part, comprising:
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a priority level distinguishing means for distinguishing the priority level of a packet by referring to header information given in the header of the packet;
a packet distribution processing unit for determining an output line to be used for sending out packets;
a switch for switching packets delivered from said packet distribution processing unit to a path toward an output line determined by said packet distribution processing unit;
a first queue for queuing a first string of packets with a first destination address specified in their header part, distinguished as first-priority packets by said priority level distinguishing means delivered from said switch;
a second queue for queuing a second string of packets distinguished as second-priority packets by said priority level distinguishing means delivered from said switch;
a third queue for queuing said first string of packets delivered from said switch;
a fourth queue for queuing said second string of packets delivered from said switch;
a first packet delivery controller for reading packets from said first and second queues and for sending out the packets over a first output line; and
a second packet delivery controller for reading packets from said third and fourth queues and for sending out the packets over a second output line;
wherein said first packet delivery controller reads said first string of packets from said first queue in preference to reading said second string of packets from said second queue, wherein said second packet delivery controller reads said first string of packets from said third queue in preference to reading said second string of packets from said fifth queue, further wherein during normal operation said packet distribution processing unit determines to send out said first string of packets over said first output line via said first queue, and further wherein during a fault state in said first output line said packet distribution processing unit determines to send out said first string of packets over said second output line via said third queue.
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20. A method of routing packets in a network, comprising the steps of:
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sending a high priority string of packets via a first queue over a first output line;
sending a low priority string of packets via a second queue over said first output line and via a third queue over a second output line;
detecting a fault in said first output line;
rerouting said high priority string of packets over said second output line via a fourth queue, wherein packets sent from the first queue and the fourth queue have priority over the packets sent from the second queue and the third queue respectively.
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Specification