Assigning addresses to packet-network devices and booting multi-channel devices

• US 20030140168A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peshkin, Joel D., Whitfield, Michael C., Pynko, Alexey E.
• Application Number:
  US10/055,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/201 Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes but is not limited to a host processor operably coupled with a broadcast-capable switch; a first broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch; a second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch; and at least one of the first broadcast-packet-processing device and the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to directing at least one of a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode; directing the first broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode; transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device; directing the second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode; and transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a host processor operably coupled with a broadcast-capable switch;

a first broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch;

a second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch; and

at least one of the first broadcast-packet-processing device and the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the first broadcast-packet-processing device and the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor comprises:

the first broadcast-packet-processing device and the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the first broadcast-packet-processing device and the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor comprises:

the first broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the host processor; and

the second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the first broadcast-packet-processing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said broadcast-capable switch comprises:

an Ethernet-capable switch.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said Ethernet-capable switch comprises:

a shared medium Ethernet switch.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said Ethernet-capable switch comprises:

a non-shared medium Ethernet switch.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch comprises:

an Ethernet-broadcast-packet-processing device and an Ethernet-capable switch operable coupled by a shared medium.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch comprises:

an Ethernet-broadcast-packet-processing device and an Ethernet-capable switch operably coupled by a non-shared medium.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch comprises:

an Ethernet-broadcast-packet-processing device and an Ethernet-capable switch operable coupled by a shared medium.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said second broadcast-packet-processing device operably coupled with the broadcast-capable switch comprises:

an Ethernet-broadcast-packet-processing device and an Ethernet-capable switch operably coupled by a non-shared medium.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

an address-assignment-recognition device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said second broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

an address-assignment-recognition device.

13. A method comprising:

directing at least one of a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode;

directing the first broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode;

transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device;

directing the second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode; and

transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said directing a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value; and

forcing, substantially simultaneously with said forcing the first attend-ignore line, a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said directing a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value; and

forcing, sequential to said forcing the first attend-ignore line, a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said directing the first broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said directing the second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

forcing a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said forcing a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value comprises:

the first broadcast-packet-processing device forcing the second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into the attend value.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device until an acknowledgment from the first broadcast-packet-processing device is received.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device until an acknowledgment from the second broadcast-packet-processing device is received.

21. A system comprising:

means for directing at least one of a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode;

means for directing the first broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode;

means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device;

means for directing the second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode; and

means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for directing a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

means for forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value; and

means for forcing, substantially simultaneously with said forcing the first attend-ignore line, a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for directing a first broadcast-packet-processing device and a second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter an ignore-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

means for forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value; and

means for forcing, sequential to said forcing the first attend-ignore line, a second attend-ignore line associated with second the broadcast-packet-processing device into an ignore value.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for directing the first broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

means for forcing a first attend-ignore line associated with the first broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for directing the second broadcast-packet-processing device to enter a process-initial-address-assignment mode comprises:

means for forcing a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for forcing a second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into an attend value comprises:

the first broadcast-packet-processing device forcing the second attend-ignore line associated with the second broadcast-packet-processing device into the attend value.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the first broadcast-packet-processing device until an acknowledgment from the first broadcast-packet-processing device is received.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device comprises:

means for transmitting a broadcast packet containing payload having an address-assignment message intended for the second broadcast-packet-processing device until an acknowledgment from the second broadcast-packet-processing device is received.

29. A method comprising:

receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having an specific-address assignment message.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having an specific Media Access Control (MAC) address assignment message.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

accepting an address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message; and

sending an acknowledgment upon completion of said accepting the address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

recognizing that an address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message has already been achieved; and

sending an acknowledgment of the address assignment indicated by the specific-address assignment message.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

determining that an address assignment different from the specific-address has previously been accepted; and

ignoring the specific-address assignment message.

34. A system comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having an specific-address assignment message.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having an specific Media Access Control (MAC) address assignment message.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

means for accepting an address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message; and

means for sending an acknowledgment upon completion of said accepting the address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

means for recognizing that an address assignment as indicated by the specific-address assignment message has already been achieved; and

means for sending an acknowledgment of the address assignment indicated by the specific-address assignment message.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet containing payload having a specific-address assignment message comprises:

means for determining that an address assignment different from the specific-address has previously been accepted; and

means for ignoring the specific-address assignment message.

39. A system comprising:

a host processor operably coupled with a packet switch;

a first multi-channel device, having a Slave Initial Boot Packet Processing Device, operably coupled with the packet switch; and

a second multi-channel device, having a Slave Initial Boot Packet Processing Device, operably coupled with the packet switch.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said first multi-channel device is substantially indistinguishable from said second multi-channel device.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said first multi-channel device is substantially indistinguishable from said second multi-channel device comprises:

said first multi-channel device having a first a boot-control code Read Only Memory; and

said second multi-channel device having a second boot-control code Read Only Memory substantially similar to the first boot-control code Read Only Memory.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein said first multi-channel device, having a Slave Initial Boot Packet Processing Device, operably coupled with the packet switch comprises:

a first packet-processing device, having an assigned address, uniquely coupled with the first multi-channel device.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein said second multi-channel device, having a Slave Initial Boot Packet Processing Device, operably coupled with the packet switch comprises:

a second packet-processing device having an assigned address, uniquely coupled with the first multi-channel device.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the second packet-processing device having an assigned address comprises:

the second packet-processing device having an assigned Media Access Control address.

45. A method comprising:

initiating, at a host processor, transmission of a packet having an initial boot-up message.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said initiating, at a host processor, transmission of a packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

transmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said transmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message comprises:

retransmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message until acknowledgements associated with substantially all addresses in a set of assigned addresses have been received.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said retransmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message until acknowledgements associated with substantially all addresses in a set of assigned addresses have been received comprises:

receiving one or more acknowledgments associated with one or more addresses;

adding the one or more addresses to a set of received addresses, if the one or more addresses are not already represented in the set of received addresses; and

comparing the set of received addresses against a set of assigned addresses.

49. A system comprising:

means for initiating, at a host processor, transmission of a packet having an initial boot-up message.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said means for initiating, at a host processor, transmission of a packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

means for transmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said means for transmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message comprises:

means for retransmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message until acknowledgements associated with substantially all addresses in a set of assigned addresses have been received.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said means for retransmitting the packet having the initial boot-up message until acknowledgements associated with substantially all addresses in a set of assigned addresses have been received comprises:

means for receiving one or more acknowledgments associated with one or more addresses;

means for adding the one or more addresses to a set of received addresses, if the one or more addresses are not already represented in the set of received addresses; and

means for comparing the set of received addresses against a set of assigned addresses.

53. A method comprising:

receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

executing boot-control code; and

sending an acknowledgment upon completion of said executing the boot-control code.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

determining that boot-control code has previously been executed; and

sending an acknowledgment.

56. A system comprising:

receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

executing boot-control code; and

sending an acknowledgment upon completion of said executing the boot-control code.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein said means for receiving a broadcast packet having an initial boot-up message comprises:

determining that boot-control code has previously been executed; and

sending an acknowledgment.