Multi-link routing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving data packets from a plurality of links in one or more interface cards of a network device according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link;
prior to sequencing the data packets in the network device, performing a first routing operation to forward the data packets from the one or more interface cards to a multi-link service card of the network device in accordance with routing information that reflects a topology of a computer network, wherein the routing information identifies the multi-link service card as a destination for the data packets;
sequencing the data packets with the multi-link service card of the network device according to the multi-link protocol, wherein the multi-link service card of the network device facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the network device; and
performing a second routing operation in accordance with the routing information to forward the sequenced data packets to the interface cards of the network device for communication over the computer network.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to techniques for supporting multi-link protocols within a computer network. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a set of data blocks from a plurality of links in one or more interface cards according to a multi-link protocol and sending the data blocks to a multi-link service card for sequencing. The data blocks may then be sent to the one or more interface cards for communication to a destination device over a computer network. Implementing a multi-link service card may allow a network device, such as a router, to support multi-link protocols.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving data packets from a plurality of links in one or more interface cards of a network device according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link; prior to sequencing the data packets in the network device, performing a first routing operation to forward the data packets from the one or more interface cards to a multi-link service card of the network device in accordance with routing information that reflects a topology of a computer network, wherein the routing information identifies the multi-link service card as a destination for the data packets; sequencing the data packets with the multi-link service card of the network device according to the multi-link protocol, wherein the multi-link service card of the network device facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the network device; and performing a second routing operation in accordance with the routing information to forward the sequenced data packets to the interface cards of the network device for communication over the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving a set of fragments at a network device from a plurality of links in one or more interface cards according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link, the set of fragments collectively comprising an unsequenced data packet; performing a first routing operation in the network device in accordance with routing information to send the fragments to a multi-link service card of the network device for sequencing, wherein the routing information identifies the multi-link service card as a destination for the data packets and wherein the multi-link service card of the network device facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the network device; and performing a second routing operation in the network device in accordance with routing information to send the sequenced fragments as a sequenced data packet to the one or more interface cards of the network device for communication to a destination device over a computer network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving a set of data blocks from a plurality of links in one or more interface cards of a network device according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link, and performing a first routing operation in the network device to forward the data blocks from the interface cards to a first multi-link service card of the network device in accordance with routing information that reflects a topology of a computer network, wherein the routing information identifies the first multi-link service card of the network device as a destination for the data packets and wherein the first multi-link service card of the network device facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the network device; sequencing the data blocks in the first multi-link service card of the network device; and performing a second routing operation in the network device in accordance with the routing information to forward the sequenced data blocks back to the one or more interface cards. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A router comprising:
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one or more interface cards for receiving a Set of data blocks from a source within a computer network according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link, a multi-link service card that facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the router, and a routing control unit coupled to the interface card and the multi-link service card, wherein the routing control unit performs routing operations based on routing information to select the multi-link service card as a destination and to forward the set of data blocks from the interface card to the multi-link service card for sequencing according to the multi-link protocol, and wherein following sequencing by the multi-link service card, the routing control unit selects one of the interface cards to forward the sequenced data blocks over the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A router comprising:
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a plurality of cards, wherein the cards include interface cards for receiving data blocks from a computer network and a multi-link service card for sequencing the data blocks according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the router as a single logical link; and a routing control unit coupled to the interface cards and the multi-link service card, wherein the routing control unit maintains routing information that represents a topology of a network, wherein the routing information represents the multi-link service card as a destination within the network, and wherein the routing control unit performs routing operations based on routing information to forward the data blocks from the interface cards to the multi-link service card for sequencing according to the multi-link protocol and to forward sequenced data blocks from the multi-link service card to the interface cards for output to network destinations. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A router comprising a plurality of cards, wherein the cards include interface cards for receiving data blocks from a computer network and a multi-link service card for fragmenting the data blocks according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the router as a single logical link;
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a routing control unit coupled to the interface cards and the multi-link service card, wherein the routing control unit maintains routing information that represents a topology of a network, wherein the routing information represents the multi-link service cards as destinations within the network, and wherein the routing control unit performs routing operations based on routing information to forward the set of data blocks from the interface cards to the multi-link service card for fragmenting according to the multi-link protocol and to forward fragmented data blocks from the multi-link service card to the interface cards for output to network destinations. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A multi-link service card for insertion within a network device, the multi-link service card comprising:
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an electrical interconnection interface for coupling the multi-link service card to the network device, an input logic unit that receives data blocks from a control unit via the electrical interconnection interface in response to a first routing operation by the control unit of the network device, a sequencer unit coupled to the input logic unit for sequencing the data blocks according to a multi-link protocol that allows multiple physical links to be treated by the network device as a single logical link, and an output logic unit coupled to the sequencer that sends sequenced data blocks for processing by the control unit with a second routing operation, wherein the multi-link service card facilitates support of the multi-link protocol by the network device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification