Network switch

• US 5,910,954 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bar-Eli, Eldad, Mann, Eytan, Bronstein, Zvi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US08/910,783
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401-405, 370/465, 370/466, 370/469, 370/470, 370/471
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A network having at least one emulated local area network (LAN) therein includes groups of legacy LAN workstations, network switches and an ATM switch. The network switches are each connectable to one of the groups of the legacy LAN workstations. The ATM switch is connectable to the network switches and each network switch includes a cell memory, a cell memory manager, local switching apparatus and remote switching apparatus. The cell memory stores cells of data. The cell memory manager converts data back and forth between a format and a cell format, stores the cell format data in the cell memory and retrieves calls therefrom. The local switching apparatus locally switches cells of data among the group of legacy LAN workstations connectable to the network switch. The remote switching apparatus switches the cells of data from the network switch to a remote network switch via the ATM switch.

Claims

1. A network having at least one emulated local area network (LAN) therein, said network comprising:

at least two groups of legacy LAN workstations;

at least two network switches, each connectable to one of said groups of said legacy LAN workstations;

an ATM switch connectable to said at least two network switches;

wherein each network switch comprises;

a cell memory for storing cells of data;

a cell memory manager for converting data back and forth between a frame and a cell format, for storing said cell format data in said cell memory and for retrieving cells therefrom;

means for local switching of said cells of data among said group of legacy LAN workstations connectable to said network switch; and

means for remote switching of said cells of data from said network switch to a remote network switch via said ATM switch.

2. A network according to claim 1 and wherein each said network switch comprises an address translation unit having stored therein a map of said network and a listing of which legacy LAN workstations belong to which of said at least one emulated LAN.

3. A network according to claim 2 and wherein said listing includes a listing of which legacy LAN workstations are connected to said remote network switch and require that their cells be switched through said ATM switch.

4. A network according to claim 2 and wherein said cell memory manager receives translation information from said address translation unit.

5. A network switch connectable to a multiplicity of legacy LAN workstations and to an ATM switch, which, in turn, is connected to a remote network switch, said network switch comprising:

a cell memory for storing cells of data;

a cell memory manager for converting data back and forth between a frame and a cell format, for storing said cell format data in said cell memory and for retrieving cells therefrom;

means for local switching of said cells of data among said group of legacy LAN workstations connectable to said network switch; and

means for remote switching of said cells of data from said network switch to said remote network switch via said ATM switch.

6. A network switch according to claim 5 and wherein said network switch comprises an address translation unit having stored therein a map of said network and a listing of which legacy LAN workstations belong to which of said at least one emulated LAN.

7. A network switch according to claim 6 and wherein said listing includes a listing of which legacy LAN workstations are connected to said remote network switch and require that their cells be switched through said ATM switch.

8. A network switch according to claim 6 and wherein said cell memory manager receives translation information from said address translation unit.