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. 28, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 19, 2001
Peter B Everdell, Littleton, MA (US);
Chris R Noel, Acton, MA (US);
Brian Branscomb, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Nicholas a Langrind, Carlisle, MA (US);
Peter B Everdell, Littleton, MA (US);
Chris R Noel, Acton, MA (US);
Brian Branscomb, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Nicholas A Langrind, Carlisle, MA (US);
CIENA Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving transmission of control information within a network device and between multiple connected network devices. Specifically, a control path is included within a network device that is independent of the data path and dedicates control path resources to each distributed processor within the network device. Dedicating resources insures that each processor has sufficient bandwidth on the control plane to transmit control information at high frequencies. This may prevent starvation of data transmissions during periods of high control information transfers and may also reduce the likelihood or further spreading of control information storms when one or more network devices in a network experiences a failure.