Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Redback Networks Inc.

Nexgen Microsystems

Nexgen, Inc.

Ericsson Ab

Amd Inc.

David R Stiles

John Gregory Favor

Korbin S Van Dyke

Robert Alan Cargnoni

Dale Robert Greenley

Harold L McFarland

Shrenik M Mehta

Siegfried Luft

Gerald Neufeld

Anurag Nigam

Felix Chow

James Chun Pang

Sharath Narahari

Ramesh Duvvuru

Ricky See

Lawrence Ong

Teresa A Roth

James Wang

Michael McClary

Walstein Bennett Smith, Iii

Sharath Narahara

A ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables. According to one embodiment of the invention, a single network element includes a full TDM cross-connect and a multiple ring unit. The full TDM cross-connect is coupled to very line card slot in the single network element with the same amount of bandwidth connection. In addition, the full TDM cross-connect is programmable on an STS-1 basis. The multiple ring unit allows for the simultaneous support of multiple TDM rings.

Ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables

A method and apparatus for the incorporation of any size and location of concatenated SONET frames, which carry packet data, in an SONET signal are described. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving packet data. Additionally, the method includes concatenating the packet data into a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) signal. The concatenation can be across any locations within the TDM SONET signal, and a size of the concatenation can be in increments of single SONET frames. The method also includes transmitting the TDM SONET signal having the concatenated packet data.

Any size and location of concatenated packet data across SONET frames in a SONET signal

A method and apparatus for processing channelized and unchannelized data within a signal are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving in a network element, data packets within a number of channels, wherein each of the number of channels are channelized or unchannelized, processing, in a protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are channelized, and processing, in the protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are unchannelized.

Method and apparatus for processing channelized and unchannelized data within a signal

An on-chip RAM FIFO (first-in-first-out) buffer for storing SPE overhead bytes wherein each entry of the RAM FIFO stores (1) a byte of the SPE overhead; (2) an indication of which byte of the SPE overhead is currently stored in that entry; and (3) an indication of which STS signal that byte was taken from.

Onboard RAM based FIFO with pointers to buffer overhead bytes of synchronous payload envelopes in synchronous optical networks

A method and apparatus for variable rate pipes is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises allocating a pipe from part of a working channel and at least part of a protecting channel of a span of a bi-directional line switched ring (BLSR), the pipe having a bandwidth, transmitting a set of layer 2/3 traffic in the pipe, and reducing the pipe's bandwidth when a failure occurs in the ring.

Method and apparatus for variable rate pipes

A ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables. According to one embodiment of the invention, a single network element includes a full TDM cross-connect and a multiple ring unit. The full TDM cross-connect is coupled to every line card slot in the single network element with the same amount of bandwidth connection. In addition, the full TDM cross-connect is programmable on an STS-1 basis. The multiple ring unit allows for the simultaneous support of multiple TDM rings.

A method and apparatus for disabling a data interface between network element data processing units is described. In one embodiment, the method includes transmitting data frames over a data connection through an interface of a first network element data processing unit to a second network element data processing unit, disabling the interface, receiving an interface disable signal, completing transmission of data frames currently being transmitted, upon receiving an interface disable signal, disabling the interface, the disabling not causing data loss, receiving acknowledgements over the data connection, and enabling the data connection after receiving a number of acknowledgements.

Method and apparatus for disabling an interface between network element data processing units

A method and apparatus for a hybrid variable rate pipe is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method of provisioning a non-BLSR protected layer 2/3 channel over a BLSR, provisioning a tunnel over the BLSR, and protecting the non-BLSR protected layer 2/3 channel between a first and second node of the BLSR with the tunnel is described.

Protection mechanism for an optical ring

Any size and location of concatenated packet data across Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) frames in a SONET signal is provided. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving portions of packets and placing the portions into buffers. Additionally, the method may determine packet boundaries among the portions of packets in the buffers to locate a number of packets. Additionally, the method may concatenate the packet data into a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) SONET signal. The concatenation can be across any locations within the TDM SONET signal, and the size of the concatenation can be in increments of single SONET frames. In another embodiment, the number of packets may be concatenated within locations in the TDM SONET signal not occupied by the TDM data traffic. In one embodiment, the TDM SONET signal having the concatenated packet data may be transmitted.

A method and apparatus for switching data of different protocols through a network are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data from a number of interfaces. Additionally, the method includes switching the data through a first switch fabric upon determining that the data is being processed as packet data. The switching of the data through the first switch fabric includes de-encapsulating a first number of protocol headers from the packet data. The switching of the data through the first switch fabric also includes encapsulating a second number of protocol headers from the packet data. Moreover, the method includes switching the data through a second switch fabric upon determining that the data is being processed as Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) traffic.

Method and apparatus for switching data of different protocols

A method and apparatus for a hybrid variable rate pipe is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises provisioning a hybrid variable rate pipe on a span of an optical ring and transmitting a set of traffic in the hybrid variable rate pipe.

Method and apparatus for a hybrid variable rate pipe

A method and apparatus for alignment of TDM-based signals for packet transmission using framed and unframed operations are described. In an embodiment, a line card in a network element includes a deframer unit that receives a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) signal. The TDM signal includes a payload and overhead data. The deframer generates frame alignment data based on the overhead data. The line card also includes a packet engine unit coupled to the deframer unit. The packet engine unit receives the payload, the overhead data and the frame alignment data and generates a number of packet engine packets. The packet engine packets represent a frame within the TDM signal such that the packet engine packets include the payload, the overhead data and the frame alignment data. Additionally, the line card includes packet processor coupled to the deframer unit. The packet processor receives the packet engine packets and generates network packets based on the packet engine packets.

Alignment of TDM-based signals for packet transmission using framed and unframed operations

A method and apparatus for processing data packets of differing protocols across different channels within signals are described. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal includes a number of channels such that each of the number of channels can include different protocols and different configurations for the different protocols. The method also includes processing data packets in each of the number of channels in a predefined order.

Method and apparatus for processing of multiple protocols within data transmission signals

An integrated circuit having a normal mode for operating under normal operating conditions and a debug mode for operating to test and debug the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of output pins that carry a first plurality of signals in the normal mode and carry a second plurality of signals in the debug mode. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit embodies a microprocessor. The microprocessor may include logic circuitry for enabling the second plurality of signals to be output from a multiplexer to the output pins in response to a predetermined event, such as a hit in an associated memory unit.

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

David R Stiles