Switch architecture independent of media

• US 7,725,639 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kadambi, Shiri, Ambe, Shekhar, Relan, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/292,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 710/303, 710/304, 710/315, 710/316, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356, 370/358, 370/360, 370/362, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/422, 370/902, 370/927, 370/913
• 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 are disclosed. The 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 configured to perform packet switching on a plurality of ports;

a centralized processing engine configured to process a packet from each of the plurality of ports and transfer the packet to at least one port of the plurality of ports;

a plurality of interfaces configured to interface 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.

2. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.3 specification.

3. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.11 specification.

4. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a Bluetooth specification.

5. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a wireless communication specification which supports data.

6. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a voice and content-centric application.

7. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 1394 specification.

8. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a communications specification for cable modems.

9. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a Synchronous Optical Network specification.

10. The network component of claim 1, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to a switched based serial I/O interconnect architecture built for fault tolerance and scalability.

11. The network component of claim 1, further comprising the plurality of ports coupled to the plurality of interfaces.

12. A network component comprising:

a switching unit configured to perform packet switching on a plurality of ports;

a plurality of interfaces configured to interface 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.

13. The network component of claim 12, further comprising a centralized processing engine configured to process a packet from each of the plurality of ports and to transfer the packet to at least one port of the plurality of ports.

14. The network component of claim 12, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.3 specification.

15. The network component of claim 12, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.11 specification.

16. A network component comprising:

a centralized processing engine configured to process a packet from each of plurality of ports to transfer the packet to at least one port of the plurality of ports;

a plurality of interfaces configured to interface 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.

17. The network component of claim 16, further comprising a switching unit configured to perform packet switching on the plurality of ports.

18. The network component of claim 16, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.3 specification.

19. The network component of claim 16, wherein the network component is configured to receive incoming data at one of the plurality of ports according to an IEEE 802.11 specification.