Method And Apparatus For Providing An Integrated Network Of Processors
First Claim
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1. A network of processing units, the network comprising:
- a network processing unit (NPU);
at least one virtual host that includes a central processing unit (CPU) executing an operating system; and
a plurality of auxiliary processing units, wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is configured to bypass the operating system and communicate directly with the other auxiliary processing units via the NPU, and wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is perceived by the virtual host as a separate network appliance that provides both local access and remote access in a distributed computing environment.
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Abstract
A novel network architecture that integrates the functions of an internet protocol (IP) router into a network processing unit (NPU) that resides in a host computer'"'"'s chipset such that the host computer'"'"'s resources are perceived as separate network appliances. The NPU appears logically separate from the host computer even though, in one embodiment, it is sharing the same chip.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A network of processing units, the network comprising:
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a network processing unit (NPU);
at least one virtual host that includes a central processing unit (CPU) executing an operating system; and
a plurality of auxiliary processing units, wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is configured to bypass the operating system and communicate directly with the other auxiliary processing units via the NPU, and wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is perceived by the virtual host as a separate network appliance that provides both local access and remote access in a distributed computing environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A computing device comprising:
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a network processing unit (NPU);
at least one virtual host that includes a central processing unit (CPU) executing an operating system; and
a plurality of auxiliary processing units, wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is configured to bypass the operating system and communicate directly with the other auxiliary processing units via the NPU, and wherein each of the auxiliary processing units is perceived by the virtual host as a separate network appliance that provides both local access and remote access in a distributed computing environment. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. In a virtual host having a central processing unit (CPU) and a network processing unit (NPU) that is in communication with the CPU and a plurality of auxiliary processing units, a method of transporting a data packet associated with a software application from a first auxiliary processing unit to a second auxiliary processing unit, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the data packet from the first auxiliary processing unit using standard networking protocols without involvement from the CPU;
receiving the data packet at the NPU;
routing the data packet to the second auxiliary processing unit; and
receiving the data packet at the second auxiliary processing unit, wherein the CPU is bypassed in the transport path from the first auxiliary processing unit to the second auxiliary processing unit and wherein the first auxiliary processing unit and the second auxiliary processing unit are perceived as separate network appliances that provide both local access and remote access in a distributed computing environment. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification