Method and apparatus for efficiently processing data packets in a computer network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining, by a network device, a first priority value based upon a first field of a data packet received by the network device;
determining, by the network device, a second priority value based upon a second field of the data packet, wherein the second field is different from the first field;
determining, by the network device, a maximum value from among a default priority value for the data packet, the first priority value, and the second priority value based upon the values of the default, the first, and the second priority values; and
setting a packet forwarding priority within the network device for the data packet based upon the determined maximum value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to an embodiment of the invention, a network device such as a router or switch provides efficient data packet handling capability. The network device includes one or more input ports for receiving data packets to be routed, as well as one or more output ports for transmitting data packets. The network device includes an integrated port controller integrated circuit for routing packets. The integrated circuit includes an interface circuit, a received packets circuit, a buffer manager circuit for receiving data packets from the received packets circuit and transmitting data packets in one or more buffers and reading data packets from the one or more buffers. The integrated circuit also includes a rate shaper counter for storing credit for a traffic class, so that the integrated circuit can support input and/or output rate shaping. The integrated circuit may be associated with an IRAM, a CAM, a parameter memory configured to hold routing and/or switching parameters, which may be implemented as a PRAM, and an aging RAM, which stores aging information. The aging information may be used by a CPU coupled to the integrated circuit via a system interface circuit to remove entries from the CAM and/or the PRAM when an age count exceeds an age limit threshold for the entries.
524 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, by a network device, a first priority value based upon a first field of a data packet received by the network device; determining, by the network device, a second priority value based upon a second field of the data packet, wherein the second field is different from the first field; determining, by the network device, a maximum value from among a default priority value for the data packet, the first priority value, and the second priority value based upon the values of the default, the first, and the second priority values; and setting a packet forwarding priority within the network device for the data packet based upon the determined maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network device comprising:
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a port configured to receive a data packet; and a port controller coupled to the port; wherein the port controller is configured to; determine a first priority value based upon a first field of the data packet; determine a second priority value based upon a second field of the data packet, wherein the second field is different from the first field; determine a maximum value from among a default priority value, the first priority value, and the second priority value based upon the values of the default, the first, and the second priority values; and set a packet forwarding priority within the network device for the data packet based upon the determined maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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determining, in a network device, a first priority value for a packet received by the network device, wherein the first priority value is determined based upon a first field of the packet; determining, in the network device, a second priority value for the packet received by the network device, the second priority value determined based upon a second field of the packet, wherein the first field is different from the second field; determining a maximum value from among the first priority value and the second priority value, wherein the maximum value is the first priority value if the first priority value is higher than the second priority value and the maximum value is the second priority value if the second priority value is higher than the first priority value; and setting a packet forwarding priority within the network device for the packet based upon the determined maximum value.
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Specification