Computer network switching system
First Claim
1. A network switching system, comprising:
- a first port coupled to a first plurality of data processing devices, including a source;
a second port coupled to a second plurality of data processing devices, including a destination;
a third port coupled to a third plurality of data processing devices;
multiplexer means coupled to the first port, the second port, and the third port for transferring data between the first port, the second port, and the third port by selectively connecting two of the first, second, and third ports, wherein when the data is transferred from the source to the destination through the first port, the multiplexer means couples the first port with the second port;
processing means coupled to the multiplexer means for assisting in a transmission of the data by receiving the data from the first port when the first port does not indicate a port for the destination, wherein if the first port does not indicate a port of the destination, the data is first transferred from the first port to the processing means via the multiplexer means and the processing means then transfers the data to the second port and the third port via the multiplexer means to search for the destination, wherein if the first port indicates that the second port includes the destination, then the data is transferred to the second port via the multiplexer means without being transferred to the processing means.
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Abstract
A network switching system is described. The network switching system comprises a first port coupled to a source, a second port coupled to a destination, and multiplexer means coupled to the first port and the second port for transferring data between the first port and the second port by selectively connecting the first port with the second port. The data is transferred from the source to the destination through the first port, the multiplexer means, and the second port. The network switching system further includes processing means coupled to the multiplexer means for assisting transmission of the data by receiving the data from the first port when the first port does not indicate a port for the destination. A method of transferring data from a source to a destination via a network switching system is also described.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A network switching system, comprising:
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a first port coupled to a first plurality of data processing devices, including a source; a second port coupled to a second plurality of data processing devices, including a destination; a third port coupled to a third plurality of data processing devices; multiplexer means coupled to the first port, the second port, and the third port for transferring data between the first port, the second port, and the third port by selectively connecting two of the first, second, and third ports, wherein when the data is transferred from the source to the destination through the first port, the multiplexer means couples the first port with the second port; processing means coupled to the multiplexer means for assisting in a transmission of the data by receiving the data from the first port when the first port does not indicate a port for the destination, wherein if the first port does not indicate a port of the destination, the data is first transferred from the first port to the processing means via the multiplexer means and the processing means then transfers the data to the second port and the third port via the multiplexer means to search for the destination, wherein if the first port indicates that the second port includes the destination, then the data is transferred to the second port via the multiplexer means without being transferred to the processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of transferring data from a source to a destination via a network switching system, comprising the steps of:
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(A) sending the data from the source to a first port; (B) inspecting the data for a destination address stored in the data in the first port, wherein the destination address indicates the data is sent to the destination; (C) sending the data to processing means via multiplexer means if the first port fails to indicate a port that is coupled to the destination indicated by the destination address of the data, wherein the processing means then accesses a plurality of ports via the multiplexer means for the port that is coupled to the destination indicated by the destination address; (D) sending the data directly to a second port via the multiplexer means without sending the data to the processing means if the second port is coupled to the destination indicated by the destination address and if the first port indicates that the second port is coupled to the destination; (E) sending the data to the destination from the second port. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification