Multi-stage packet switching system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving data packets at a multistage switch, wherein the multistage switch includes a plurality of ingress switching modules, a core switching module operationally connected to the plurality of ingress switching modules, and a plurality of egress switching modules operationally connected to the core switch module;
switching the data packets through the plurality of ingress switching modules, wherein said switching the data packets through a plurality of ingress switching modules includesstoring the data packets in a plurality of queues;
forming frames from the data packets in queues selected for switching; and
switching the frames from ingress queuing engines to ingress crossbar data elements;
forming, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, core frames from the data packets switched through the plurality of ingress switching modules;
combining, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, a plurality of the core frames into a wavelength division multiplexed signal;
switching the wavelength division multiplexed signal through the core switch module;
separating, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the plurality of the core frames from the wavelength division multiplexed signal;
extracting, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the data packets from the plurality of the core frames;
switching the data packets extracted from the plurality of the core frames through the plurality of egress switching modules; and
transmitting the switched data packets from the plurality of egress switching modules.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a multi-stage switch having at least one ingress switch module to receive data and to generate frames that are transmitted as a wavelength division multiplexed signal. The multi-stage switch further includes a core switch module operatively connected to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signal from the at least one ingress switch module and to switch the frames. The multi-stage switch additionally includes at least one egress switch module to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signal from the core switch module and to transmit data.
56 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving data packets at a multistage switch, wherein the multistage switch includes a plurality of ingress switching modules, a core switching module operationally connected to the plurality of ingress switching modules, and a plurality of egress switching modules operationally connected to the core switch module; switching the data packets through the plurality of ingress switching modules, wherein said switching the data packets through a plurality of ingress switching modules includes storing the data packets in a plurality of queues; forming frames from the data packets in queues selected for switching; and switching the frames from ingress queuing engines to ingress crossbar data elements; forming, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, core frames from the data packets switched through the plurality of ingress switching modules; combining, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, a plurality of the core frames into a wavelength division multiplexed signal; switching the wavelength division multiplexed signal through the core switch module; separating, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the plurality of the core frames from the wavelength division multiplexed signal; extracting, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the data packets from the plurality of the core frames; switching the data packets extracted from the plurality of the core frames through the plurality of egress switching modules; and transmitting the switched data packets from the plurality of egress switching modules. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method comprising:
-
receiving data packets at a multistage switch, wherein the multistage switch includes a plurality of ingress switching modules, a core switching module operationally connected to the plurality of ingress switching modules, and a plurality of egress switching modules operationally connected to the core switch module; switching the data packets through the plurality of ingress switching modules; forming, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, core frames from the data packets switched through the plurality of ingress switching modules; combining, in the plurality of ingress switching modules, a plurality of the core frames into a wavelength division multiplexed signal; switching the wavelength division multiplexed signal through the core switch module; separating, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the plurality of the core frames from the wavelength division multiplexed signal; extracting, in the plurality of egress switching modules, the data packets from the plurality of the core frames; switching the data packets extracted from the plurality of the core frames through the plurality of egress switching modules, wherein said switching the data packets through a plurality of egress switching modules includes storing the data packets in a plurality of queues; forming frames from the data packets in queues selected for switching; and switching the frames from egress crossbar data elements to egress queuing engines; and transmitting the switched data packets from the plurality of egress switching modules. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
-
5. A store and forward device comprising:
-
a plurality of Ethernet cards to receive data packets from and transmit data packets to external sources; and a multistage switch to switch the data packets between the plurality of Ethernet cards, the multistage switch including a plurality of ingress switch modules, wherein each ingress switch module includes a plurality of ingress queuing engines to receive the data packets from the plurality of Ethernet cards and to form frames from the data packets, at least one ingress crossbar switch plane to switch the data packets within the frames through the ingress switch module, a plurality of ingress crossbar data elements to extract the switched data packets from the switched frames, and a framer to create core frames from the switched data packets, and to combine a plurality of the core frames into a wavelength division multiplexed signal; a core switch module operatively connected to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signals from the plurality of ingress switch modules and to switch the wavelength division multiplexed signals therethrough; and a plurality of egress switch modules, wherein each egress switch module is to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signals from the core switch module, to separate the core frames from the wavelength division multiplexed signals, to extract the data packets from the core frames, to form frames from the data packets, to switch the data packets within the frames therethrough, to extract the switched data packets from the switched frames, and to transmit the data packets to the plurality of Ethernet cards. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A multi-stage switch fabric comprising:
-
a plurality of ingress switch modules, wherein each ingress switch module is to receive data packets via a plurality of ingress ports, to form frames from the data packets, to switch the data packets within the frames therethrough, to extract the switched data packets from the switched frames, to create core frames from the switched data packets, and to combine a plurality of the core frames into a wavelength division multiplexed signal; a core switch module operatively connected to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signals from the plurality of ingress switch modules and to switch the wavelength division multiplexed signals therethrough; and a plurality of egress switch modules, wherein each egress switch module includes a deframer to receive the wavelength division multiplexed signals from the core switch module and to separate the core frames from the wavelength division multiplexed signals, a plurality of egress crossbar data elements to extract the data packets from the core frames and to form frames from the data packets, at least one egress crossbar switch plane to switch the data packets within the frames through the egress switch module, and a plurality of egress queuing engines to extract the switched data packets from the switched frames and to transmit the data packets via a plurality of egress ports. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification