Method and apparatus for routing data through a computer network
First Claim
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1. An active backplane board for coupling an external network data path with a single board computer for routing data through a network, comprising:
- a. a backplane board substrate having at least two data buses, each data bus comprising a plurality of electrical pathways;
b. a plurality of electronic circuit board expansion slots located on said substrate and in data communication with one of said buses, each slot adapted to receive a network interface card, and couple said network interface card to one of said data buses, and to retain said network interface card spaced apart from but in a plane generally parallel with said backplane board substrate;
c. a means for electrically coupling a first said data bus to a single board computer; and
d. at least one bridge means for electronically coupling said at least two data buses;
wherein said bridge means providing buffering and synchronization of data transferred between said at least two data buses; and
said bridge means having at least a primary port and a secondary port.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for routing data and, more particularly, to a novel backplane for use in a data routing device, the backplane being an active backplane employing a PCI-PCI bridge interface chip and a bus operating at up to 64-bit and 66 MHz frequency. The present invention is also directed to a data routing device employing such a novel passive backplane.
34 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An active backplane board for coupling an external network data path with a single board computer for routing data through a network, comprising:
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a. a backplane board substrate having at least two data buses, each data bus comprising a plurality of electrical pathways;
b. a plurality of electronic circuit board expansion slots located on said substrate and in data communication with one of said buses, each slot adapted to receive a network interface card, and couple said network interface card to one of said data buses, and to retain said network interface card spaced apart from but in a plane generally parallel with said backplane board substrate;
c. a means for electrically coupling a first said data bus to a single board computer; and
d. at least one bridge means for electronically coupling said at least two data buses;
wherein said bridge means providing buffering and synchronization of data transferred between said at least two data buses; and
said bridge means having at least a primary port and a secondary port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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16. A router device having an active backplane, comprising:
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a. a housing having a removable access panel, including ventilation means and power distribution means;
b. a plurality of data communication ports accessible externally of said housing, said ports residing on and in data communication with at least one network interface card;
c. a single board computer;
d. memory storage means; and
e. an active backplane board interposed between said network interface card and said single board computer, said backplane board providing data communication between said network interface card and said single board computer, said backplane board comprising a backplane board substrate having at least two data buses, each data bus comprising a plurality of electrical pathways;
a plurality of electronic circuit board expansion slots located on said substrate and in data communication with one of said buses, each slot adapted to receive a network interface card, and couple said network interface card to one of said data buses, and to retain said network interface card spaced apart from but in a plane generally parallel with said backplane board substrate;
means for electrically coupling a first said data bus to a single board computer; and
at least one bridge means for electronically coupling said at least two data buses, said bridge means providing buffering and synchronization of data transferred between said at least two data buses;
said bridge means having at least a primary port and a secondary port;
wherein said network interface card is retained within said network interface card-receiving electronic circuit board expansion slot in a spaced apart but generally parallel plane with said backplane board substrate and wherein said router housing is approximately one rack unit in height.
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40. An improved method for routing data through a network comprising the following steps:
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a. providing an active backplane board for coupling an external network data path with an SBC programmed to route data through a network;
b. providing at least two data buses, each data bus made up of a plurality of electrical pathways on the backplane, with a plurality of electronic circuit board expansion slots located on the backplane substrate, in data communication with one of the buses;
c. adapting each slot to receive a network interface card, and coupling the NIC to one of the data buses while at the same time retaining said NIC in a spaced apart relation from, but in a plane generally parallel with the backplane board substrate;
d. providing a means for electrically coupling a first said data bus to a single board computer; and
e. providing at least one bridge means for electronically coupling said the two (or more, if applicable) data buses;
with said bridge means providing buffering and synchronization of data transferred between said at least two data buses;
with the PCI bridge means having at least a primary port and a secondary port for bi-directional communications with the SBC. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification