Interconnection architecture for managing multiple low bandwidth connections over a high bandwidth link
First Claim
1. A method for managing a data connection comprising the steps of:
- generating a first message including an exchange identification field holding a value that uniquely identifies a logical exchange to which the message belongs;
encoding the first message into a first datagram, the first datagram including meta-data for use by a packet switched link;
transporting the datagram over a packet switched link;
receiving the datagram from the packet switched link in an intermediate data transport mechanism coupled to the link;
storing the meta-data in the intermediate data transport mechanism;
re-encoding the first message into a second datagram, the second datagram including meta-data for use by a circuit switched link; and
transporting the second datagram over a circuit switched link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data communication architecture including a plurality of devices having input/output (I/O) ports supporting communication at a first rate and a data processor having a number of I/O ports where each I/O port supports data communication at a second data rate. The second data rate is at least double the first data rate. A communication link coupled to one of the data processor I/O ports supports the second data rate. A bridge device is coupled to the communication link and to the I/O ports of the plurality of devices. The bridge device translates the communication link at the second data rate to a plurality of communication links at the first data rate, where the plurality of communication links at the first data rate are substantially independent of each other.
21 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for managing a data connection comprising the steps of:
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generating a first message including an exchange identification field holding a value that uniquely identifies a logical exchange to which the message belongs; encoding the first message into a first datagram, the first datagram including meta-data for use by a packet switched link; transporting the datagram over a packet switched link; receiving the datagram from the packet switched link in an intermediate data transport mechanism coupled to the link; storing the meta-data in the intermediate data transport mechanism; re-encoding the first message into a second datagram, the second datagram including meta-data for use by a circuit switched link; and transporting the second datagram over a circuit switched link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A bridge circuit for a communication link comprising:
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a packet switched side supporting a full duplex packet switched link; a circuit switched side supporting a number of full duplex circuit switched links; a binding mechanism within the bridge circuit having a storage space for storing a logical binding description binding packet switched frames to a particular one of the circuit switched links, wherein the bridge circuit identifies a logical exchange indicated in packet-switched frames received on the packet switched link and maintains the logical binding throughout the duration of the logical exchange, and the bridge circuit further maintains the status of the logical exchange as open, active, or closed. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for operating a communication link comprising the steps of:
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providing a bridge unit supporting a high bandwidth connection and a plurality of low bandwidth connections; verifying operability of the low bandwidth connections; determining an exchange credit value based on the number of operable low bandwidth connections; issuing a message including the credit value on the high bandwidth connection; requiring any device coupled to the high bandwidth connection to have at least one exchange credit before communications will be accepted by the bridge unit on the high bandwidth connection from that device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification