Forwarding system with multiple logical sub-system functionality
First Claim
1. A method of generating a mapping for use by a data forwarding entity having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising:
- a) receiving a first mapping specifying a next hop interface for data elements received at the communication interfaces, wherein at least one next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to a set of logical interfaces;
b) receiving a second mapping specifying a next hop interface for certain data elements for which the next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to the set of logical interfaces, wherein at least one next hop interface specified by the second mapping belongs to the plurality of communication interfaces; and
c) generating a consolidated mapping from the first and second mappings by replacing each portion of the first mapping that specifies a next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces by a corresponding portion of the second mapping that specifies a next hop interface different from said next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Generation of a mapping for use by a data forwarding entity having communication interfaces and instantiating multiple logical forwarding sub-systems associated with respective mappings including a first mapping and a second mapping. The first mapping specifies a next hop interface for data elements received at the interfaces, at least one next hop interface belonging to a set of logical interfaces. The second mapping specifies a second next hop interface for certain data elements for which the next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to the set of logical interfaces, at least one second next hop interface belonging to the plurality of communication interfaces. A consolidated mapping is created by replacing each portion of the first mapping that specifies a next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces by a corresponding portion of the second mapping that specifies a second next hop interface. Efficiency arises when the same data is processed by more than one logical forwarding sub-system in the same physical forwarding system.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of generating a mapping for use by a data forwarding entity having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising:
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a) receiving a first mapping specifying a next hop interface for data elements received at the communication interfaces, wherein at least one next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to a set of logical interfaces; b) receiving a second mapping specifying a next hop interface for certain data elements for which the next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to the set of logical interfaces, wherein at least one next hop interface specified by the second mapping belongs to the plurality of communication interfaces; and c) generating a consolidated mapping from the first and second mappings by replacing each portion of the first mapping that specifies a next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces by a corresponding portion of the second mapping that specifies a next hop interface different from said next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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7. (canceled)
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17. A data forwarding apparatus, comprising:
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a) a plurality of communication interfaces at which data elements are received by the apparatus; b) a memory for storing a first mapping, a second mapping and a consolidated mapping; i) the first mapping specifying a next hop interface for data elements received at the communication interfaces, wherein at least one next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to a set of logical interfaces; ii) the second mapping specifying a next hop interface for certain data elements for which the next hop interface specified by the first mapping belongs to the set of logical interfaces, wherein at least one second next hop interface specified by the second mapping belongs to the plurality of communication interfaces; iii) the consolidated mapping specifying a next hop interface for data elements received at the communication interfaces, wherein no next hop interface specified by the consolidated mapping belongs to the set of logical interfaces; c) a processing entity connected to said communication interfaces and said memory, said processing entity being capable of; i) generating the consolidated mapping from the first and second mappings by replacing each portion of the first mapping that specifies a next hop interface belonging to the set of logical interfaces by a corresponding portion of the second mapping that specifies a next hop interface belonging to the plurality of communication interfaces; ii) accessing the consolidated mapping to determine a next hop interface associated with each data element received at the communication interfaces; iii) forwarding the received data element to the next hop interface determined at ii). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22-28. -28. (canceled)
Specification