Methods and systems to transfer information using an alternative routing associated with a communication network

• US 6,950,394 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Storage Solutions (U.S.), Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chou, Norman Cho-Chun, Sennett, Laura, Colloff, Ian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/948,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/401, 370/351, 370/389, 370/229, 370/390, 710/100, 710/316, 709/221, 709/238
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

A method of facilitating data transfers through a communication network. The method includes forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor. The first data set has transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith. The routing instructions specify a destination for the first data set. The method further includes extracting the transfer instructions at the processor and generating a first routing request for the first data set according to the transfer instructions to transfer the first data set to a second interconnect device. The second interconnect device is capable of routing the first data set to the destination. The first routing request has no association to the routing instructions.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating data transfers through a communication network, said method including:

forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

extracting said transfer instructions at said processor; and

generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions to transfer said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said second interconnect device is the same as said first interconnect device.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to a manager residing in said processor instructing said manager to generate said first routing request.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port configured to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said routing instructions further indicate an address for said destination such that said address identifies said destination.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first interconnect device is coupled to said second interconnect device using a plurality of links wherein each of said plurality of links is one of a 1×

link, a 4×

link, and a 12×

link.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said interconnect devices is one of an ASIC chip, a switch, a router, a repeater, and an adapter.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein said processor is a microprocessor.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein said communication network is a switch fabric and wherein said interconnect devices are switches.

12. A method as in claim 1 further including:

generating a second data set at said processor and routing said second data set to said second interconnect device, said second data set being substantially identical to said first data set except that said second data set does not have said transfer instructions associated therewith, said second interconnect device further including a routing table having a routing path to route said second data set to said destination.

13. A method as in claim 12 further including:

generating a second routing request for said second data set at said second interconnect device, said second routing request having an association to said routing instructions wherein said second routing request requests a port access to a communication port present in said second interconnect device to route said second data set to said destination.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said communication port is one of identified in said routing instructions as said routing path and identified within said routing table as said routing path for all of said data transfers including a transfer of said second data set to said destination.

15. A method as in claim 13 wherein each of said interconnect devices includes an arbitration system wherein an arbiter manages flows of routing requests occurring in said communication network including said first routing request and said second routing request.

16. A method as in claim 12 wherein said destination includes a plurality of destinations and said second routing request is a multicast routing request, said multicast routing request requesting a plurality of port accesses to route said second data set to said plurality of destinations.

17. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said first interconnect device and said second interconnect device includes a plurality of communication ports, each of said plurality of communication ports to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

18. A method as in claim 17 further including:

causing said first routing request to request a port access to a first communication port present in said first interconnect device to route said first data set from said processor to said second interconnect device wherein said second interconnect device including a second communication port to receive said first data set.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein said destination includes a plurality of routing path identifications wherein each of said plurality of routing path identifications indicates at least one of said plurality of communication ports for said data transfers.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said second interconnect device further includes a routing table, said routing table including a routing path information for an address to said destination wherein said routing path information indicates a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said routing table is at least one of a unicast routing table and a multicast routing table, said unicast routing table being dedicated to routing said first data set to said destination and said multicast routing table being dedicated to routing said first data set to a plurality of said destinations.

22. A method as in claim 20 wherein said routing path information for said address is extracted from said routing table.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said routing table further indicates a port association for said address, said port association indicating at least one communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

24. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first interconnect device further includes an internal management port, said internal management port receives management instructions from a plurality of managers of said communication network, at least one of said plurality of managers performs at least one of managing and configuring said communication network, discovering and configuring interconnect devices in said communication network, and setting up, modifying, and configuring routing tables in said communication network.

25. A method as in claim 24 further including dividing said communication network into a plurality of Sub-Networks, each of said Sub-Networks interconnected to said communication network via connectors.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said plurality of managers includes Sub-Network managers and Sub-Network management agents.

27. A method as in as in claim 26 wherein each of said Sub-Networks includes at least one of said Sub-Network managers and at least one of said Sub-Network management agents.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein at least one of said Sub-Network managers resides within one of said Sub-Networks and wherein at least one of said Sub-Network managers resides within said processor.

29. A method as in claim 28 including causing said processor to perform at least one of running said Sub-Network managers, running said Sub-Network management agents, disabling said Sub-Network management agents, managing said Sub-Network, and generating said first routing request, said first routing requests having no association to said routing instructions.

30. A method of facilitating data transfers through a communication network, said method including:

forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associating therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

extracting said transfer instructions at said processor;

generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions; and

transferring said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein said second interconnect device is the same as said first interconnect device.

32. A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing to perform a method for facilitating data transfers through a communication network, said method including:

forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associating therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

extracting said transfer instructions at said processor;

generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions; and

transferring said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination.

33. A device including:

a processor; and

an interconnect device having a plurality of communication ports and an internal management port, said internal management port further coupling to said processor, and said interconnect device to receive a first data set and to forward said first data set to said processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associating therewith and said routing instructions specifying said destination for said first data set; and

wherein said processor is coupled to an interface in said interconnect device such that said processor is capable of extracting said transfer instructions and generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions to transfer said first data set to another interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions.

34. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device is the same as said another interconnect device.

35. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device further includes a manager, said manager capable of receiving said transfer instructions and generating said first routing request.

36. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device is coupled to said another interconnect device using a plurality of links wherein each of said plurality of links is one of a 1×

link, a 4×

link, and a 12×

link.

37. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device is one of an ASIC chip, a switch, a router, a repeater, and an adapter.

38. A device as in claim 33 wherein said processor is a microprocessor.

39. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device is a switch configured for incorporation into a switch fabric.

40. A device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device is configured for incorporation into a communication network, said communication network performing data transfers.

41. A device as in claim 33 wherein said processor is further capable of generating a second data set and routing said second data set to said another interconnect device wherein said second data set is substantially identical to said first data set except that said second data set does not have said transfer instructions associated therewith and wherein said another interconnect device includes a routing table having a routing path to route said second data set to said destination.

42. A device as in claim 33 wherein each of said plurality of communication ports to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting for data transfers in and out of said interconnect device.

43. A device as in claim 33 wherein said first routing request requesting a port access to one of said plurality of communication ports to route said first data set from said processor to said another interconnect device wherein said another interconnect device includes at least one communication port to received said first data set.

44. As device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device further includes an internal management port, said internal management port coupling to said processor and said internal management port receiving management instructions from a plurality of managers of said communication network.

45. As device as in claim 33 wherein said interconnect device further includes an arbitration system wherein an arbiter manages flows of routing requests occurring in said interconnect device including said first routing request.

46. A device as in claim 33 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

47. A device as in claim 33 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said manager instructing said manager to generate said first routing request, said manager further residing in said processor.

48. A device as in claim 33 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

49. A device as in claim 33 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

50. A device as in claim 49 wherein said routing instructions further indicate an address for said destination such that address identifies said destination.

51. A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing to perform a method for facilitating data transfers through a communication network, said method including:

forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

extracting said transfer instructions at said processor; and

generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions to transfer said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions.

52. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

53. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to a manager residing in said processor instructing said manager to generate said first routing request.

54. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

55. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port configured to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

56. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 51 wherein said routing instructions further indicate at least one address for said destination such that said at least one address identifies said destination.

57. A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing to perform a method for facilitating data transfers through a communication network, said method including:

forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

extracting said transfer instructions at said processor;

generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions; and

transferring said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination.

58. A method as in claim 57 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

59. A method as in claim 57 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to a manager residing in said processor instructing said manager to generate said first routing request.

60. A method as in claim 57 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

61. A method as in claim 57 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port configured to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

62. A method as in claim 57 wherein said routing instructions further indicate an address for said destination such that said address identifies said destination.

63. A system to facilitate data transfers through a communication network, the system including:

a data forwarding process to cause a first data set received from a first interconnect device to be forwarded to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

an extraction process to cause said transfer instructions to be extracted at said processor; and

a request generation process to have said processor to generate a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions to transfer said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions.

64. A system according to claim 63 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

65. A system according to claim 63 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to a manager residing in said processor instructing said manager to generate said first routing request.

66. A system according to claim 63 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

67. A system according to claim 63 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port configured to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

68. A system according to claim 63 wherein said routing instructions further indicate an address for said destination such that said address identifies said destination.

69. A system to facilitate data transfers through a communication network, the system including:

a first means for causing a first data set received from a first interconnect device to be forwarded to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

a second means for causing said transfer instructions to be extracted at said processor; and

a third means for generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions at said processor to transfer said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions.

70. A system as in claim 69 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to said processor instructing said processor to generate said first routing request.

71. A system as in claim 69 wherein said transfer instructions are addressed to a manager residing in said processor instructing said manager to generate said first routing request.

72. A system as in claim 69 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a routing path for said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination.

73. A system as in claim 69 wherein said routing instructions further indicate a communication port sequence and a pointer for said communication port sequence wherein said pointer is an output port identifying a communication port dedicated to said data transfers including a transfer of said first data set to said destination, said communication port configured to perform at least one of data sending, data receiving, and route requesting.

74. A system as in claim 69 wherein said routing instructions further indicate an address for said destination such that said address identifies said destination.

75. A system to facilitate data transfers through a communication network, said system including:

a first means for forwarding a first data set received from a first interconnect device to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

a second means for extracting said transfer instructions at said processor,

a third means for generating a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions; and

a fourth means for transferring said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination.

76. A system to data transfers through a communication network, the system including:

a data forwarding process to cause a first data set received from a first interconnect device to be forwarded to a processor, said first data set having transfer instructions and routing instructions associated therewith, said routing instructions specifying a destination for said first data set;

an extraction process to cause said transfer instructions to be extracted at said processor;

a request generation process to have said processor to generate a first routing request for said first data set according to said transfer instructions, said first routing request having no association to said routing instructions; and

a transfer process for transferring said first data set to a second interconnect device capable of routing said first data set to said destination.