Method and System for Managing Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Timeslots in a Network Switch
First Claim
1. A method for managing assignment of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) timeslots of a TDM cycle in a network switch that includes a plurality of ports configured to receive input data and convey output data for the network switch, the method comprising:
- programming the network switch to support a first TDM timeslot assignment scheme for a first configuration of the ports, wherein the programmed network switch is configured to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through the first configuration of the ports using the first TDM timeslot assignment scheme; and
reprogramming the network switch to support a second TDM timeslot assignment scheme for a second configuration of the ports, wherein the reprogrammed network switch is configured to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through the second configuration of the ports using the second TDM timeslot assignment scheme.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing the allocation of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) timeslots in a network switch. The network switch may use a TDM cycle comprising multiple timeslots to manage shared resources and to schedule data ingress and egress through the ports of the current configuration, wherein each port is assigned one or more timeslots. The network switch may be reprogrammed to support one of multiple timeslot assignment schemes for one of multiple port configurations. The network switch may support configurations with varying numbers of ports, e.g. 8- and 16-port configurations. A network switch may also support configurations where two or more ports are combined to form one port, for example, a 2 Gbs Fibre Channel port. To meet the requirements of the various configurations, the timeslot assignment scheme may be reprogrammed to meet the scheduling requirements of each of the possible port configurations.
94 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing assignment of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) timeslots of a TDM cycle in a network switch that includes a plurality of ports configured to receive input data and convey output data for the network switch, the method comprising:
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programming the network switch to support a first TDM timeslot assignment scheme for a first configuration of the ports, wherein the programmed network switch is configured to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through the first configuration of the ports using the first TDM timeslot assignment scheme; and
reprogramming the network switch to support a second TDM timeslot assignment scheme for a second configuration of the ports, wherein the reprogrammed network switch is configured to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through the second configuration of the ports using the second TDM timeslot assignment scheme. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network switch comprising:
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a plurality of ports configured to receive input data and convey output data for the network switch; and
scheduler logic coupled to the ports, the scheduler logic being configured to schedule receiving of the input data and conveying of the output data through the ports using a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) cycle comprising a plurality of timeslots, wherein the network switch is programmable to implement any of a plurality of TDM timeslot assignment schemes for the TDM cycle, each of the plurality of TDM timeslot assignment schemes supporting a different configuration of the ports in the network switch, and the network switch is further reprogrammable from a first TDM timeslot assignment scheme supporting a first configuration of the ports in the network switch to a second TDM timeslot assignment scheme supporting a second configuration of the ports in the network switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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providing one or more programmable registers in a network switch that includes a plurality of ports configured to receive input data and convey output data for the network switch, the one or more programmable registers being configured to store at least one of a plurality of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) timeslot assignment schemes supported by the network switch. configuring the network switch to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through a first configuration of the ports using a first TDM timeslot assignment scheme read from the one or more programmable registers; and
configuring the network switch to schedule the receiving of the input data and the conveying of the output data through a second configuration of the ports using a second TDM timeslot assignment scheme read from the one or more programmable registers.
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Specification