Multi-speed cut through operation in fibre channel switches
First Claim
1. A method for routing frames between a transmit port and a receive port using a switch element, the method comprising:
- receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of the switch element;
determining a frame length threshold value based upon a transmit speed of the transmit port and a receive speed of the receive port, the frame length threshold value indicating a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer; and
setting a status bit based on the transmit speed, the receive speed, the frame length threshold value and an amount of the frame received.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for routing frames based on a port'"'"'s speed using a switch element. The method includes receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of a port; determining a frame length threshold value; and setting up a status bit based on the port'"'"'s speed, the frame length threshold value and an amount of the frame received. The status bit is sent to a transmit segment of the switch element and the frame length threshold value is proportional to the port'"'"'s speed. Also, if the receive buffer is almost full when the frame arrives at the receive port, then a cut status is based on the frame'"'"'s end of frame (“EOF”) value.
58 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for routing frames between a transmit port and a receive port using a switch element, the method comprising:
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receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of the switch element; determining a frame length threshold value based upon a transmit speed of the transmit port and a receive speed of the receive port, the frame length threshold value indicating a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer; and setting a status bit based on the transmit speed, the receive speed, the frame length threshold value and an amount of the frame received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for routing frames between a transmit port having a transmit speed and a receive port having a receive speed using a switch element, the method comprising:
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receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of the switch element; determining if a status bit is set, wherein whether or not the status bit is set is based on the transmit speed, the receive speed, a frame length threshold value, and an amount of the frame received, and wherein the frame length threshold value indicates a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer; if the status bit is not set, waiting for at least an additional portion of the frame to be received in the receive buffer; and if the status bit is set, reading the frame out of the receive buffer. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A switch element for routing frames between a transmit port and a receive port, the switch element comprising:
a receive port segment and a transmit port segment configured for receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of the receive port segment, determining a frame length threshold value based upon a transmit speed of the transmit port and a receive speed of the receive port, the frame length threshold value indicating a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer, and setting a status bit based on the transmit speed, the receive speed, the frame length threshold value, and an amount of the frame received. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A switch element for routing frames between a transmit port having a transmit speed and a receive port having a receive speed using a switch element, the switch element comprising:
a receive port segment and a transmit port segment configured for; receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of the switch element; determining if a status bit is set, wherein whether or not the status bit is set is based on the transmit speed, the receive speed, a frame length threshold value, and an amount of the frame received, and wherein the frame length threshold value indicates a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer; if the status bit is not set, waiting for at least an additional portion of the frame to be received in the receive buffer; and if the status bit is set, reading the frame out of the receive buffer.
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10. A method for routing frames using a switch element having a receive segment with a receive buffer and a transmit segment with a transmit buffer, the method comprising:
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receiving a portion of a frame at the receive buffer; determining if the receive buffer is almost full when the portion of the frame arrives; if the receive buffer is almost full, setting a cut status bit based on the frame'"'"'s end of frame (“
EOF”
) value; andif the receive buffer is not almost full, setting the cut status bit based on a frame length threshold value; wherein the frame length threshold value indicates a minimum fraction of the entire frame that must be received in the receive buffer before the frame may be read out of the receive buffer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification