Channel adapter with integrated switch
First Claim
1. Apparatus for interfacing a computing device with a network, comprising:
- a switch, comprising a plurality of ports, including at least first and second ports; and
an interface adapter, configured to receive data from the computing device for transmission over the network, the interface adapter comprising;
packet generation circuitry, adapted to prepare a packet containing the data and destined to be transmitted onto the network through the second port;
a buffer, coupled to receive and store the packet prepared by the packet generation circuitry; and
an output interface, coupled between the buffer and the first port of the switch, and adapted to submit a notification to the first port that the packet has been prepared in the buffer, and upon receiving a response from the first port indicating that the second port is ready to transmit the packet, to convey the packet to the first port, whereupon the first port passes the packet to the second port for transmission onto the network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for interfacing a computing device with a network includes a switch and an interface adapter. The interface adapter includes packet generation circuitry, for preparing a packet for transmission onto the network through the switch, and a buffer, coupled to receive and store the packet prepared by the packet generation circuitry. An output interface, coupled between the buffer and a first port of the switch, submits a notification to the first port that the packet has been prepared in the buffer. Upon receiving a response from the first port indicating that a second port of the switch, connected to the network, is ready to transmit the packet, the output interface conveys the packet to the first port, whereupon the first port passes the packet to the second port for transmission onto the network.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for interfacing a computing device with a network, comprising:
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a switch, comprising a plurality of ports, including at least first and second ports; and
an interface adapter, configured to receive data from the computing device for transmission over the network, the interface adapter comprising;
packet generation circuitry, adapted to prepare a packet containing the data and destined to be transmitted onto the network through the second port;
a buffer, coupled to receive and store the packet prepared by the packet generation circuitry; and
an output interface, coupled between the buffer and the first port of the switch, and adapted to submit a notification to the first port that the packet has been prepared in the buffer, and upon receiving a response from the first port indicating that the second port is ready to transmit the packet, to convey the packet to the first port, whereupon the first port passes the packet to the second port for transmission onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for interfacing a computing device with a network, comprising:
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an interface adapter, configured to receive data from the computing device for transmission over the network, the interface adapter comprising;
packet generation circuitry, adapted to prepare a packet containing the data;
a buffer, coupled to receive and store the packet prepared by the packet generation circuitry; and
an output interface, coupled to read the packet from the buffer; and
a switch, comprising;
a network port, connected to the network; and
an access port, coupled to receive an indication from the network port that the network port is ready to transmit the packet onto the network, and further coupled to signal the output interface, responsive to the indication, that the switch is ready to receive the packet, so that the output interface passes the packet to the access port, and the access port conveys the packet to the network port for transmission onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for data communication, comprising:
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preparing a packet containing data for transmission over a network via a switch having an input port and an output port connecting to the network;
storing the prepared packet in a buffer off the switch;
upon receiving an indication from the input port that the output port is ready to transmit the packet, conveying the packet to the input port; and
passing the packet through the switch from the input port to the output port for transmission onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification