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:
Aug. 07, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1998
Cher-Wen Lin, Milpitas, CA (US);
Kumar Ramaswamy, San Jose, CA (US);
Mizanur Mohammed Rahman, Cupertino, CA (US);
Randall David Rettberg, Danville, CA (US);
Sun Microsystems, Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors, including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processors each providing data packet switching processors. The control processor is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of network interfaces and the data packet switching processors are coupled to each remaining one of the plurality of network interfaces. A switch is coupled to the control processor through the corresponding one of the network interfaces and is coupled to at least one of the switching processors through at least one other one of the network interfaces. The switching processors thereby are capable of routing a received one of the data packets directed to the control processor through the switch to the control processor.