Network switch architecture for processing packets independent of media type of connected ports

• US 7,469,310 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ambe, Shekhar, Kadambi, Shiri, Relan, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/401,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/104, 710/105, 710300-304, 710/100, 710/62, 710/72, 710/315, 710/316, 709/227, 709/249, 709/223, 709/236, 709/208, 370/400, 370/402, 370/902, 370/907, 370/813, 370/913, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356, 370/358, 370/360, 370/362, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/422, 398/118, 398/140, 398/58, 455/550.1, 715/111
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40071 Packet processing; Packet format adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific network H04N21/2381, H04N21/4363, H04N21/4381; packet switches H04L49/00; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/102 using shared medium, e.g. bus or ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network device for handling data and a method for handling data in a network device includes at least one media port and at least one high speed docking station, communicating with the at least one media port. At least one master is provided in the network device, where the at least one master is connected to the at least one high speed docking station. The master is configured to handle and process data received by the at least one media port and passed to the master through the at least one high speed docking station. The network device is configured to handle media ports of different media types. Thus, the device can handle data received through different media ports that have different media types with the same master, making the network device easily configured to meet a customer'"'"'s needs.

Claims

1. A network component comprising:

a switching unit for performing packet switching on a plurality of ports;

a centralized processing engine for processing a packet from each of the plurality of ports and for transferring the packet to at least one port of the plurality of ports; and

a plurality of interfaces for interfacing with each of the plurality of ports through at least one docking station, wherein a first media type of at least one of the plurality of ports is different from a second media type of another one of the plurality of ports.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the centralized processing engine is configured to support a plurality of service agents, each of the plurality of service agents being used to provide a host of function and being dedicated to at least one of the plurality of ports.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to at least one of IEEE 802.3 specifications, IEEE 802.11 specifications, a wireless communication specification which supports data, voice and content-centric applications, IEEE 1394 specifications, communications specifications for cable modems, Synchronous Optical Network specifications or specifications for a switched based serial I/O interconnect architecture built for fault tolerance and scalability.

4. A network component comprising:

a switching unit for performing packet switching on a plurality of ports;

a centralized processing engine for processing a packet from each of the plurality of ports and for transferring the packet to at least one port of the plurality of ports; and

a plurality of interfaces for interfacing with each of the plurality of ports through at least one docking station, wherein a first media type of at least one of the plurality of ports is the same or different from a second media type of another one of the plurality of ports,

wherein at least one of the plurality of interfaces is configured to connect to a docking station for further connection to at least one of the plurality of ports, wherein a total bandwidth of the docking station exceeds a sum of a maximum bandwidth of the plurality of ports to which the docking station is connected.

5. The network device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of ports is configured to forward incoming packets to or receive outgoing packets from a packet lane, the packet lane being used for connecting the docking station to the plurality of ports.

6. The network device of claim 5, wherein the packet lane comprises a point to point bus for providing a direct connection between at least one of the plurality of ports and the docking station.

7. The network device of claim 5, wherein the packet lane comprises a portion of a shared bus, wherein a shared bus protocol mediates the flow of data between the plurality of ports and the docking station.