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Apparatus having three separated and decentralized processors for concurrently and independently processing packets in a communication network

  • US 5,465,331 A
  • Filed: 12/23/1992
  • Issued: 11/07/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a system having a plurality of networks communicating with packets, a parallel, scalable inter-networking packet routing apparatus for receiving and storing packets from one of the plurality of networks, processing the packets and forwarding packets to another one of the plurality of networks comprising:

  • a plurality of first control means each first control means for receiving packets from anyone of the plurality of networks, for maintaining a queuing status of the received packets and transferring packets;

    a plurality of packet memory means for storing packets received and transferred by the plurality of first control means;

    a plurality of second control means, separate from the plurality of first control means, each second control means coupled to an individual one of said plurality of packet memory means, for receiving the transferred packets from a first control means, and for organizing and maintaining packets in respective packet memory means, the plurality of second control means operate concurrently with and independently from the plurality of first control means;

    connection switch means, coupled between the plurality of first control means and the plurality of second control means, for transfering packets between any one of the plurality of first control means and any one of the plurality of second control means; and

    a plurality of node processor means coupled to a respective first control means and said connection switch means, each node processor means for

         1) obtaining status of the stored packets from the respective first control means,

         2) accessing packets from a packet memory means by way of the connection switch means and a second control means,

         3) processing packets based on their origin and destination,

         4) storing the processed packets back into the packet memory means by way of the connection switch means and the second control means and

         5) for updating the queueing status of the packets by way of the respective first control means, the plurality of node processors operate concurrently with and independently from the first and second control means.

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