Prioritization and preemption of data frames over a switching fabric
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one input buffer operable to receive data, wherein the data includes data having a first priority level and data having a second priority level;
a first crossbar coupled to the at least one input buffer, the first crossbar operable to receive the data having the first priority level;
a second crossbar coupled to the at least one input buffer, the second crossbar operable to receive the data having the second priority level;
a first data path coupled between the at least one input buffer and the first crossbar;
a second data path coupled between the at least one input buffer and the second crossbar;
wherein the at least one input buffer is configured to simultaneously transmit data having the first priority level and data having the second priority level to the first and second crossbars, respectively, via the first and second data paths, respectively;
wherein the first and second crossbars switch the data having the first priority and the data having the second priority separately on respective corresponding ones of the first and second crossbars according to priority level; and
at least one output buffer coupled to the first crossbar and the second crossbar, the at least one output buffer operable to receive the data having the first priority level from the first crossbar and the data having the second priority level from the second crossbar.
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Abstract
Network switching and/or routing devices can use multiple priority data streams and queues to support prioritized serial transmission of data from line cards (or the like) through a fabric switch to other line cards (or the like). Preemption logic is used to insert within a data stream commands indicating a switch from one priority level data to another. Delimiter commands and combination switch/delimiter commands can also be used. Multiple crossbars are implemented in the fabric switch to support the various data stream priority levels.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one input buffer operable to receive data, wherein the data includes data having a first priority level and data having a second priority level; a first crossbar coupled to the at least one input buffer, the first crossbar operable to receive the data having the first priority level; a second crossbar coupled to the at least one input buffer, the second crossbar operable to receive the data having the second priority level; a first data path coupled between the at least one input buffer and the first crossbar; a second data path coupled between the at least one input buffer and the second crossbar; wherein the at least one input buffer is configured to simultaneously transmit data having the first priority level and data having the second priority level to the first and second crossbars, respectively, via the first and second data paths, respectively; wherein the first and second crossbars switch the data having the first priority and the data having the second priority separately on respective corresponding ones of the first and second crossbars according to priority level; and at least one output buffer coupled to the first crossbar and the second crossbar, the at least one output buffer operable to receive the data having the first priority level from the first crossbar and the data having the second priority level from the second crossbar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification