Method and system in a local area network switch for dynamically changing operating modes
First Claim
1. A method for changing operating modes of a local area network switch, wherein said local area network switch includes a plurality of ports connected to a plurality of local area network segments, and wherein said local area network switch selectively transfers frames from a source port to a destination port, said method comprising the steps of:
- operating said local area network switch in a first mode of operation wherein said frames are examined for errors as said frames are transferred from said source port to said destination port within said local area network switch;
calculating an error rate as a function of a percentage of said frames having errors; and
switching said local area network switch to a second mode of operation if said error rate exceeds a high error rate threshold, wherein said second mode of operation includes the steps of examining each frame for errors within said local area network switch, and transferring said frame from said source port to said destination port only after completely examining said frame and determining that a number of errors within said frame is equal to or below a preselected number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a local area network switch, a first mode of operation is selected wherein frames are examined for errors as the frames are passed from a source port to a destination port. The LAN switch calculates an error rate as a function of a percentage of the frames passing through the local area network switch which have errors. In response to the error rate exceeding a high error rate threshold, the operating mode is switched to a second mode wherein the entire frame is buffered and examined for errors before the frame is passed from the source port to the destination port. Thereafter, the operating mode may be returned to the first mode if the error rate falls below a low error rate threshold. The local area network switch may also change operating modes as a function of a trend, which indicates a rate of increase or decrease of the error rate.
122 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for changing operating modes of a local area network switch, wherein said local area network switch includes a plurality of ports connected to a plurality of local area network segments, and wherein said local area network switch selectively transfers frames from a source port to a destination port, said method comprising the steps of:
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operating said local area network switch in a first mode of operation wherein said frames are examined for errors as said frames are transferred from said source port to said destination port within said local area network switch; calculating an error rate as a function of a percentage of said frames having errors; and switching said local area network switch to a second mode of operation if said error rate exceeds a high error rate threshold, wherein said second mode of operation includes the steps of examining each frame for errors within said local area network switch, and transferring said frame from said source port to said destination port only after completely examining said frame and determining that a number of errors within said frame is equal to or below a preselected number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A local area network switch including a plurality of ports for connecting to a plurality of local area network segments, wherein said local area network switch includes means for selectively transferring frames from a source port to a destination port, said local area network switch comprising:
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means for operating said local area network switch in a first mode of operation including means for examining said frames for errors as said frames are transferred from said source port to said destination port within said local area network switch; means for calculating an error rate as a function of a percentage of said frames having errors; and means for switching said local area network switch to a second mode of operation if said error rate exceeds a high error rate threshold; means for operating said local area network switch in a second mode of operation including means for examining each frame for errors within said local area network switch, means for transferring said frame from said source port to said destination port, and means for determining that a number of errors within said frame is equal to or below a preselected number, wherein said frames are transferred from said source port to said destination port only after said frame has been completely examined and a number of errors within said frame is equal to or below a preselected number. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification