Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, by the network node, that a port of the network node is ready to receive a packet; identifying a packet having a highest packet priority among a plurality of packets received via a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of identifying includes, for each of a plurality of components at a first hierarchy level: identifying a first level highest priority packet among a plurality of packets available to the component, based on a packet priority associated with each of the plurality of packets available to the component, sharing the packet priority of the first level highest priority packet with at least one component at a second hierarchy level; and transmitting the packet having the highest priority to the port.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, by the network node, that a port of the network node is ready to receive a packet; identifying a packet having a highest packet priority among a plurality of packets received via a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of identifying includes, for each of a plurality of components at a first hierarchy level: identifying a first level highest priority packet among a plurality of packets available to the component, based on a packet priority associated with each of the plurality of packets available to the component, sharing the packet priority of the first level highest priority packet with at least one component at a second hierarchy level; and transmitting the packet having the highest priority to the port.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, by the network node, that a port of the network node is ready to receive a packet; identifying a packet having a highest packet priority among a plurality of packets received via a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of identifying includes, for each of a plurality of components at a first hierarchy level: identifying a first level highest priority packet among a plurality of packets available to the component, based on a packet priority associated with each of the plurality of packets available to the component, sharing the packet priority of the first level highest priority packet with at least one component at a second hierarchy level; and transmitting the packet having the highest priority to the port.

Abstract: A method of using a FLASH memory for a circular buffer, and the FLASH memory for same, the method including one or more of the following steps in various exemplary embodiments: providing a circular buffer having a plurality of sectors; designating a byte of each of the plurality of sectors of the circular buffer as a binary state indicator; saving data sequentially in the circular buffer; and cycling through a plurality of sectors of the binary state indicators, such as empty or erase, last, middle and first, as the data is sequentially saved in the circular buffer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element is described. Network traffic is denominated in cells as it passes through the network element. Prior to the upgrade, an internal header is provided to direct the communication of a cell through the network element. The internal header has internal routing information to direct the routing of the cell through the switching fabric of the network element. Additional internal routing information compatible with upgraded components of a network element is added to the cells passing through the network element. The additional internal routing information is dependent on the internal routing information previously provided in the internal header, but differs from the internal routing information in that it supports the upgraded components of the network element.

Abstract: A method of using a FLASH memory for a circular buffer, and the FLASH memory for same, the method including one or more of the following steps in various exemplary embodiments: providing a circular buffer having a plurality of sectors; designating a byte of each of the plurality of sectors of the circular buffer as a binary state indicator; saving data sequentially in the circular buffer; and cycling through a plurality of sectors of the binary state indicators, such as empty or erase, last, middle and first, as the data is sequentially saved in the circular buffer.

Abstract: A source selection system for a communication switch for selecting a primary datasource from a plurality of datasources is provided. The system includes a validation module associated with the plurality of datasources adapted to monitor each datasource of the plurality of datasources for transmission errors in output originating from each datasource and adapted to provide information relating to the transmission errors. The system also includes a source selector associated with the validation module and the plurality of datasources, the source selector adapted to select an output datasource from the plurality of datasources. The system further includes an assessment module associated with the validation module adapted to identify the primary datasource from the plurality of datasources utilizing the information provided by the validation module and adapted to cause the source selector to select the output datasource associated with the primary datasource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element is described. Network traffic is denominated in cells as it passes through the network element. Prior to the upgrade, an internal header is provided to direct the communication of a cell through the network element. The internal header has internal routing information to direct the routing of the cell through the switching fabric of the network element. Additional internal routing information compatible with upgraded components of a network element is added to the cells passing through the network element. The additional internal routing information is dependent on the internal routing information previously provided in the internal header, but differs from the internal routing information in that it supports the upgraded components of the network element.

Abstract: A source selection system for a communication switch for selecting a primary datasource from a plurality of datasources is provided. The system includes a validation module associated with the plurality of datasources adapted to monitor each datasource of the plurality of datasources for transmission errors in output originating from each datasource and adapted to provide information relating to the transmission errors. The system also includes a source selector associated with the validation module and the plurality of datasources, the source selector adapted to select an output datasource from the plurality of datasources. The system further includes an assessment module associated with the validation module adapted to identify the primary datasource from the plurality of datasources utilizing the information provided by the validation module and adapted to cause the source selector to select the output datasource associated with the primary datasource.