Management of storage and retrieval of data labels in random access memory
First Claim
1. A method of managing labels for a multicast group that includes one or more label clusters, where each entry in a label cluster comprises a label for insertion into a respective packet in a multicast transmission and a validity field, the method comprising, in a processor performing the following:
- establishing a root table which defines the number of replications of the packet in a multicast group and identifies a first label cluster associated with the multicast group;
associating with each label cluster a next cluster pointer that points to another label cluster; and
establishing a sentinel cluster of which all entries are indicated to be invalid and with a next cluster pointer pointing to the sentinel cluster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to an example embodiment, a technique may be provided for managing a label data base of which each entry comprises a data field for insertion into a respective packet in a multicast transmission and a validity field. The technique may include, for example, (a) establishing a fixed size for a cluster of labels, (b) associating with each cluster a pointer to another cluster, (c) establishing a sentinel cluster of which all entries are indicated to be invalid and of which the cluster pointer points to this sentinel cluster, (d) establishing a root table which defines the number of replications of the packet in a multicast group and identifies a first label cluster associated with the multicast group and (e) establishing a chain of clusters of which each cluster which is full of valid entries points to the next cluster in the chain and the last cluster which contains valid entries points to the sentinel cluster.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of managing labels for a multicast group that includes one or more label clusters, where each entry in a label cluster comprises a label for insertion into a respective packet in a multicast transmission and a validity field, the method comprising, in a processor performing the following:
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establishing a root table which defines the number of replications of the packet in a multicast group and identifies a first label cluster associated with the multicast group; associating with each label cluster a next cluster pointer that points to another label cluster; and establishing a sentinel cluster of which all entries are indicated to be invalid and with a next cluster pointer pointing to the sentinel cluster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network device for managing labels for a multicast group that includes one or more label clusters, where each entry in a label cluster comprises a label for insertion into a respective packet in a multicast transmission and a validity field, the network device comprising a processor that is configured to:
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establish a root table which defines the number of replications of the packet in a multicast group and identifies a first label cluster associated with the multicast group; associate with each label cluster a next cluster pointer that points to another label cluster; and establish a sentinel cluster of which all entries are indicated to be invalid and with a next cluster pointer pointing to the sentinel cluster. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification