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Virtual burst-switching networks

  • US 7,889,723 B2
  • Filed: 06/09/2008
  • Issued: 02/15/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An edge node comprising:

  • a plurality of ingress ports for receiving data packets from subtending data sources;

    a plurality of inbound ports for receiving inbound data bursts from a plurality of bufferless core nodes and disassembling said inbound data bursts into constituent data packets;

    a switch fabric;

    an edge controller;

    a plurality of egress ports for transmitting data packets to subtending data sinks; and

    a plurality of outbound ports, where each outbound port is coupled to a burst-formation device, said burst-formation device;

    forms outbound data bursts each containing a number of data packets received from ingress ports and from inbound ports through said switch fabric; and

    transmits said outbound data bursts to a selected core node among said plurality of bufferless core nodes;

    where said burst-formation device forms said outbound data bursts according to at least one of two modes;

    in a first mode;

    said each burst-formation device independently forms said bursts from already waiting data packets; and

    sends scheduling requests to a corresponding core node;

    in a second mode;

    said each burst-formation device sends flow-rate allocation requests to a respective core node;

    receives burst-transfer permits containing burst-formation instructions from said respective core nodes; and

    forms constrained bursts according to said burst-formation instructions.

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