The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1998
Nortel Networks Limited, , CA;
Abstract
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention store connection information in a memory of a node in a communications network such that the number of searches for retrieving the connection information is less than a predetermined probe threshold. The node includes a hash table and a connection table in the memory for storing and retrieving information associated with packets, frames, and/or cells in the communications network. Each entry in the hash table includes a connection identifier and, for example, a connection index, and is indexed according to a hash value based on the connection identifier. Each entry in the connection table includes connection state information that is indexed according to a connection index in the hash table. To store connection information in the memory, the node identifies in the hash table a first set of addresses that correspond to a first connection identifier. When the first set of addresses does not correspond to a free entry, the node randomly selects one of the first set of addresses, and identifies a second connection identifier in an entry at the randomly selected address. The node then inserts the second connection identifier at a free one of a second set of addresses corresponding to the second connection identifier and inserts the first connection identifier at the randomly selected address.