Abstract: A modular switch and a method that includes (a) first tier switching elements that comprise input output (IO) ports; and (b) second tier switching elements that are coupled to the first tier switching elements in a non-blocking manner. The first tier switching elements are configured to perform traffic management of traffic, and perform substantially all egress processing and ingress processing of the traffic; wherein the traffic management comprises load balancing, traffic shaping and flow-based reordering. The second tier switching elements are configured to (a) provide a shared memory space to the first tier switching elements, (b) perform substantially all of the queuing of traffic and (c) send, to the first tier switching elements, status information related to the status of shared memory resources. The first tier switching elements are configured to perform the traffic management based, at least in part, on the status information.

Abstract: A specification of an intent that identifies a desired service and a reference architecture is received. The desired service is rendered to provide instructions for dispatch to a plurality of devices having roles. Rendering the desired service includes invoking a service rendering program function based on the reference architecture and a role of a specific device. A new reference architecture may be implemented by specifying a new service rendering program function for the new reference architecture.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining information of pending operations are described. A buffer uses multiple linked lists implementing a single logical queue for a single requestor. The buffer maintains multiple head pointers and multiple tail pointers for the single requestor. Data entries of the single logical queue are stored in an alternating pattern among the multiple linked lists. During the allocation of buffer entries, the tail pointers are selected in the same alternating manner, and during the deallocation of buffer entries, the multiple head pointers are selected in the same manner.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring a system may include selecting one of a plurality of I/O slots to be allocated a number of lanes connected to a processor; and responsive to selecting the one I/O slot, sending a selection signal to a multiplexer that selects the one I/O slot from the plurality of I/O slots and configures the number of lanes for use by the one I/O slot where the number of lanes connect the one I/O slot to the processor. The system may be a data storage system and the lanes may be PCIe lanes used for data transmission. For each I/O slot, an I/O module may be inserted, removed or replaced (e.g., removed and then replaced with a new I/O card). A management controller may select the one I/O slot and send the selection signal in accordance with one or more policies. The system may support hot plug I/O modules.

Abstract: A switching device includes a plurality of ports and a switching core, which is coupled to transfer data packets between ingress and egress ports. Switching logic maintains a descriptor queue containing respective descriptors corresponding to the data packets that have been received and queued by the ports, and responsively to the respective descriptors, instructs the switching core to transfer the queued data packets between the ports. Port logic, which is associated with each port, is configured, upon receipt of a data packet from the network at the port, to signal the switching logic to place a descriptor corresponding to the data packet in the descriptor queue and, upon identifying the data packet as meeting a predefined criterion, to convey a request to the switching logic, bypassing the descriptor queue, to instruct the switching core to transfer the data packet immediately to an egress port.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes multiple ports configured to serve as ingress ports and egress ports for connection to a packet data network. A memory is coupled to the ports and configured to contain both respective input buffers allocated to the ingress ports and a shared buffer holding data packets for transmission in multiple queues via the egress ports. Control logic is configured to monitor an overall occupancy level of the memory, and when a data packet is received through an ingress port having an input buffer that is fully occupied while the overall occupancy level of the memory is below a specified maximum, to allocate additional space in the memory to the input buffer and to accept the received data packet into the additional space.

Abstract: A method for processing signaling data included in at least one protocol layer in an internet protocol (IP)-based digital broadcast transmitter, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: copying signaling data included in a packet of a layer (N+M) according to a protocol of the layer (N+M); inserting the copied signaling data, a length field for identifying the length of the copied signaling data, and a signaling indicator indicative of the existence of the copied signaling data into the end of a payload of the packet of the layer (N+M), thereby generating the packet of the layer (N+M); generating a packet of a layer (N+L) including a header of the layer (N+L) and the packet of the layer (N+M) according to a protocol of the layer (N+L); generating a packet of a layer (N) including a header of the layer (N) and the packet of the layer (N+L) according to a protocol of the layer (N), wherein the header of the layer (N) includes an indicator field for identifying that the signal

Abstract: An exemplary buffering apparatus for buffering a multi-partition video/image bitstream which transmits a plurality of compressed frames each having a plurality of partitions includes a first bitstream buffer and a second bitstream buffer. The first bitstream buffer is arranged to buffer data of a first partition of the partitions of a specific compressed frame. The second bitstream buffer is arranged to buffer data of a second partition of the partitions of the specific compressed frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmission of messages from a sender node to multiple destination nodes in a network in which: The same message is sent from the sender node to multiple destination nodes, and the destination node of a message returns an acknowledgment message to the sender node after receiving the message it comprises a step of the distribution, by the sender node, of the destination nodes into at least two groups of destination nodes according to a predetermined distribution criterion taking into account the to and fro travel time between the sending of the message and the receiving of the acknowledgment message from the destination node, and a step of sending of messages to destination nodes in the same group with a latency period between the sending of two successive messages to the same destination nodes of the same group, the latency periods, each specific to a group and defining the throughput rate of the group being different from one group to another.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a management application running on a virtualization management platform and a module on a virtual machine host to communicate via an opaque pass-through channel for transporting data through the management platform and intermediate layer(s) of the virtual machine host between the management application and the module. In one embodiment, the data is identified by a key which is unique across management applications and includes a namespace registered by the management application on the management platform and registered by the module on the virtual machine host. In another embodiment, the namespace may indicate an association of the data with one or more entities such as a distributed virtual switch, port groups, ports, and virtual machine hosts. Configuration property settings for an entity may be propagated to its sub-entities based on inheritance. Further, the data may be persisted in database(s) of the management platform and/or the intermediate layer(s).

Abstract: A network-attached storage apparatus is configured to be in communication with a local device. The apparatus includes storage devices for storing data, one interface for establishing communication with the network and another interface for establishing communication with the local device. A processor enables the interfaces to alternatively establish communication with the local device or the network.

Abstract: Non-destructive data storage is disclosed. An information change is stored that is associated with a business object such that tracking of the information change is enabled with respect to one a transaction time and/or an effective time. The stored information change is accessed with respect to a time.

Abstract: A plurality of SMP modules and an IOP module communicate storage traffic via respective corresponding I/O controllers coupled to respective physical ports of a switch fabric by addressing cells to physical port addresses corresponding to the physical ports. One of the SMPs executes initiator software to partially manage the storage traffic and the IOP executes target software to partially manage the storage traffic. Storage controllers are coupled to the IOP, enabling communication with storage devices, such as disk drives, tape drives, and/or networks of same. Respective network identification registers are included in each of the I/O controller corresponding to the SMP executing the initiator software and the I/O controller corresponding to the IOP. Transport of the storage traffic in accordance with a particular VLAN is enabled by writing a same particular value into each of the network identification registers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system for a motor vehicle for transmitting an information relating to the operation of the motor vehicle from a transmitting control device to a receiving control device. The communication system comprises an interface for the input or output of the information relating to the operation of the motor vehicle. Communication can be established via the interface by means of a protocol which comprises an operation field for identifying a task to be carried out using the information relating to the operation of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A system for receiving data includes a receiver configured to receive a radio frequency communication signal comprising at least one superframe, the at least one superframe having at least a first data stream and a second data stream encoded therein, wherein the receiver decodes at least one of the first data stream and the second data stream.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for scheduling packets belonging to a plurality of flows received at a router. It is also provided the system for carrying out the method. According to the invention, a single packet queue is used for storing said packets, said single packet queue being adapted to be divided into a variable number of successive sections which are created and updated dynamically as a function of each received packet, each section being of variable size and a section load threshold for each flow of said plurality of flows being allocated to each section. The method further comprises insertion (S11; S22; S210; S222; S230) of each received packet of a given flow in one of said successive sections as a function of said given flow and of the corresponding section load threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for self-organized caching in a content delivery network. One or more requested content items are cached at a node in a content delivery network. The disclosed method determines if the content item is stored in a local cache; and, if the content item is not stored in a local cache, the following steps are performed: requesting the content item from another node; and storing the content item in the local cache it one or more predefined capacity criteria are satisfied. The content delivery network can be a hierarchical network or a non-hierarchical network. The predefined capacity criteria can evaluate a popularity index of the content item relative to other items stored in the local cache.

Abstract: With the advent of virtualization technologies, networks and routing for those networks can now be simulated using commodity hardware. For example, virtualization technologies can be adapted to allow a single physical computing machine to be shared among multiple virtual networks by providing one or more virtual machines simulated in software by the single physical computing machine, with each virtual machine acting as a distinct logical computing system. In addition, as routing can be accomplished through software, additional network setup flexibility can be provided to the virtual network in comparison with hardware-based routing. In some implementations, virtual network setup can be abstracted through the use of resource placement templates, allowing users to create virtual networks compliant with a customer's networking policies without necessarily having knowledge of what those policies are.

Abstract: Content items in a distributed system are defined by a respective key, and each such content item is copied to R1 computer systems of the distributed system which have unique identifiers closest to a value of the respective key, where R1 is less than R2 which is less than R3, at least R2 number of the computer systems have copies of any respective one of the content items for all of the content items, and none of the computer systems farther than R3 in an address space of the distributed system have a copy of the subject content item. Modifications of individual content items are synchronized across all instances thereof responsive to a put operation and/or at periodic intervals.

Abstract: A data transmitting apparatus makes it possible to send out a retransmitting packet at early timing even when a delivery tree structure is unclear.

Abstract: A packet forwarding apparatus identifies the class of the received packet, determines whether there is a capacity for storing the received packet, spending a dedicated free capacity corresponding to the identified class, stores the packet in the buffer, spending the corresponding dedicated free capacity if there is the capacity for storing the packet, determines whether the packet may be stored spending a jointly owned free capacity if the packet may not be stored spending the dedicated free capacity, stores the packet in the buffer, spending the corresponding jointly owned free capacity if there is the capacity for storing the packet, discards the packet if the packet may not be stored spending the jointly owned free capacity, and selects a predetermined class according to a priority control and reads out the packet from the buffer for transmission.

Abstract: In one aspect, initial storage system control information is received, and in response a configuration of a storage interface is determined in accordance with the initial storage system control information. Then final storage system control information is accessed via the storage interface and the storage interface is reconfigured in accordance with the final storage system control information. In another aspect, one of a plurality of physical partitions of a physically partitionable symmetric multiprocessor executes a storage control process to control storage traffic, and another one of the physical partitions executes a program to process the storage traffic. The physical partitions are enabled to communicate the storage traffic at least in part via respective input/output controllers coupled to a switch fabric.

Abstract: A computer program product and automatic authenticating router device for automatically routing stored data from a single device to at least one remote storage location is provided. The router device includes the computer program product. The computer program product includes a computer readable medium bearing software instructions for enabling predetermined operations. The predetermined operations include detecting an availability of a proximal network; automatically establishing a connection with the at least one remote storage device based on the availability of the proximal network; automatically recognizing a data type of a data file stored on the single device; associating routing information with the data file based on the data type; and automatically uploading the data file from the single device to the remote storage device based on the routing information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing latency in call setup and teardown are provided. A network device with integrated functionalities and a cache is provided that stores policy information to reduce the amount of signaling that is necessary to setup and teardown sessions. By handling various aspects of the setup and teardown within a network device, latency is reduced and the amount of bandwidth needed for setup signaling is also reduced.

Abstract: Images and video can be produced by compositing or alpha blending a group of image layers or video layers. Increasing resolution or the number of layers results in increased computational demands. As such, the available computational resources limit the images and videos that can be produced. A computational architecture in which the image layers are packetized and streamed through processors can be easily scaled so to handle many image layers and high resolutions. The image layers are packetized to produce packet streams. The packets in the streams are received, placed in queues, and processed. For alpha blending, ingress queues receive the packetized image layers which are then z sorted and sent to egress queues. The egress queue packets are alpha blended to produce an output image or video.

Abstract: A method for selecting packets to be switched in a collapsed virtual output queuing array (cVOQ) switch core, using a request/acknowledge mechanism is disclosed. An egress location for an ingress port is selected based on degrees of freedom for the selection mechanism. The degree of freedom can be derived from the collapsed virtual output queuing array by determining a number of egress locations to which an ingress port may send packets and determining a number of ingress ports from which an egress location can receive packets. Analyzing all the queued packets for assignment to an egress location, starting with a lesser degree of freedom and ending with a greater degree of freedom provides efficient switching allocations and acknowledgements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is shown for communicating Fibre Channel frames between distinct fabrics. A proxy zone is established in each fabric with a physically present local device and a remote fabric device. A router creates a proxy device in each fabric for every device not physically connected to the fabric. The proxy devices appear to be directly attached to the router. The router handles all address translations between proxy and physical addresses. When multiple routers are encountered, the ingress router does all address translation. No routing or encapsulation headers are used except when routing between two routers. The source ID and the originator exchange identifier are stored at the egress router for all link requests that require special handling. When replies pass through that router, the destination ID and originator exchange identifier are compared with the stored information. On a match, the reply is specially handled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards “skip” and “differential” recording techniques for recording values of network parameter to a log in a lossless manner while reducing storage resources used to record such values. The counter monitor of the present invention monitors and records values of counters at time intervals to generate a counter log provided via temporary or permanent storage. The counter monitor compares a reading of the value of the counter to a previously obtained value of the counter. If the value of the counter has not changed, the counter monitor records only the timestamp to the counter log, thereby “skipping” the recording of the unchanged value. If there is any change in the value of the counter, then the change in value of the counter, i.e., a “differential” value, along with the timestamp is stored in the counters log. To further reduce storage resource usage, the counter monitor also stores changes to the timestamps as differential changes in time values.

Abstract: Linked documents are ranked by observing link selections for referred documents from referring documents and counting such selections. The counts for each of the link selections are stored at various computer systems of a distributed network, a centralized collection of computers connected through a local network, or a hybrid system (collectively, the “system”) consisting of combinations of distributed and centralized systems, and processed (e.g., using a discrete probability distribution defined by the counts of the link selections) to obtain page ranks for the referred documents. The link selections may be observed by a browser extension running on individual ones of the computer systems of the distributed network and the counts of the link selections may be stored at locations within the system determined by a distributed hash table. Search request results may be displayed in a ranked order as determined by the page ranks.

Abstract: Storage gateway remote and local access to storage devices is provided in part via a target implementing bandwidth-controlled access to the devices. The target may be iSCSI-compatible, and may also optionally implement protection, security, and performance features. The protection and security features include any combination of VLANs, zoning, Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, and encryption. The performance features include any combination of HW-accelerated Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), prioritized I/O operations, and service priority (such as strict priority and straight or weighted round-robin priorities). An initiator may be implemented in a Processor Memory Module (PMM) coupled to a switch fabric that is in turn coupled to a target implemented in a Fibre Channel Module (FCM).

Abstract: Storage gateway remote and local access to storage devices is provided in part via an initiator implementing bandwidth-controlled access to the devices. The initiator may be iSCSI-compatible, and may also optionally implement protection, security, and performance features. The protection and security features include any combination of VLANs, zoning, Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, and encryption. The performance features include any combination of HW-accelerated Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), prioritized I/O operations, and service priority (such as strict priority and straight or weighted round-robin priorities). An initiator may be implemented in a Processor Memory Module (PMM) coupled to a switch fabric that is in turn coupled to a target implemented in a Fibre Channel Module (FCM).

Abstract: An egress traffic management system for a data communication system is disclosed. The egress traffic management system makes use of a hierarchical queue ID header paradigm that enables data packets to be directed for egress traffic management to either one of a plurality of assignable queues in a main egress queue module or to one of a plurality of distributed queue modules via a common queue of the main egress queue module. This behavior enables egress traffic management functionality and scale to be varied independently and in a cost-effective manner to meet evolving requirements of a data communications system.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on a digital data processing system of the type having a first set of hosts, storage devices or other components coupled for communication with a first network manager. A second set of components is likewise coupled to a second network manager. Communications between the network managers and their respective sets of components utilize different protocols, the first network manager referring to components of the first set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the first protocol, and the second network manager referring to components of the second set with identifiers that are unique to those respective components under the second protocol.

Abstract: A search engine device includes a lookup circuit, such as a content addressable memory (CAM) array. This lookup circuit is configured to generate multiple active match signals in response to detecting multiple matches between a search operand applied to said lookup circuit and multiple entries therein, during a search operation. A priority sequencer circuit is also provided. This priority sequencer circuit, which is electrically coupled to outputs of the lookup circuit, is configured to sequentially encode each of the multiple active match signals according to priority.

Abstract: Variable length switch fabric for switching variable length data packets between input and output transmission paths in a communication network. In one embodiment of the invention, apparatus is provided for switching variable length data packets between input and output transmission paths in a communication network. The apparatus includes a plurality of input ports coupled to receive the plurality of variable length data packets from the input transmission paths and a plurality of output ports coupled to transmit the plurality of variable length data packets on the output transmission paths. The apparatus also includes a variable length switch fabric coupled to the plurality of input ports and the plurality of output ports, the variable length switch fabric operates to switch the plurality of variable length data packets from selected input ports to selected output ports in an unsegmented form.

Abstract: Method and system for routing frames in a network is provided. The method comprises, receiving a frame at a receive port of a networking switch element; determining a transmit port and a virtual lane for routing the frame; asserting a request signal to the transmit port; waiting for an accept signal from the transmit port; determining if an output link on the transmit port is unavailable and if a flow control credit is available for transmitting the frame; sending the frame to the transmit port if the accept signal is asserted; and transmitting the frame on the output link and de-asserting the request signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a sequence of data packets in a receiver apparatus, in particular a sequence of audio and/or video data packets, as well as to a receiver apparatus.

Abstract: Linked documents are ranked by observing link selections for referred documents from referring documents and counting such selections. The counts for each of the link selections are stored at various computer systems of a distributed network, a centralized collection of computers connected through a local network, or a hybrid system (collectively, the “system”) consisting of combinations of distributed and centralized systems, and processed (e.g., using a discrete probability distribution defined by the counts of the link selections) to obtain page ranks for the referred documents. The link selections may be observed by a browser extension running on individual ones of the computer systems of the distributed network and the counts of the link selections may be stored at locations within the system determined by a distributed hash table. Search request results may be displayed in a ranked order as determined by the page ranks.

Abstract: Content items in a distributed system are defined by a respective key, and each such content item is copied to R1 computer systems of the distributed system which have unique identifiers closest to a value of the respective key, where R1 is less than R2 which is less than R3, at least R2 number of the computer systems have copies of any respective one of the content items for all of the content items, and none of the computer systems farther than R3 in an address space of the distributed system have a copy of the subject content item. Modifications of individual content items are synchronized across all instances thereof responsive to a put operation and/or at periodic intervals.

Abstract: A fiber channel switch element and method for routing fiber channel frames is provided. The switch element includes a receive segment that can add a virtual storage area network (“VSAN”) tagging header to frames that are received by the receive segment; and strip the VSAN tagging header before frames are sent to ports that do not support virtual fabric capability. The receive segment includes a table used for matching fabric extension parameters. An incoming frame's VSAN identity value is compared to a control word entry to generate a value used for routing the incoming frame. The table is used to determine if a frame is part of a virtual fabric. The routing table for each port is used to route frames and the routing table includes entries for supported virtual fabrics.

Abstract: A network system includes a first device and a second device separated by a network having asymmetric routes in which traffic forwarded in a first direction from the first device to the second device may travel a different route than traffic forwarded in a second direction from the second device to the first device. At least three intermediate processing devices are located between the first device and the second device, wherein at least two of the intermediate processing devices are located along different asymmetric routes. The intermediate processing devices intercept a communication flow between the first device and the second device, and encapsulate the communication flow within network tunnels so that communications associated with the communication flow in the first direction and the second direction are forwarded between a same set of at least two of the intermediate processing devices.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (203) for use in processing streams of data generally and streams of packets in particular. The integrated circuit (203) includes a number of packet processors (307, 313, 303), a table look up engine (301), a queue management engine (305) and a buffer management engine (315). The packet processors (307, 313, 303) include a receive processor (421), a transmit processor (427) and a risc core processor (401), all of which are programmable. The receive processor (421) and the core processor (401) cooperate to receive and route packets being received and the core processor (401) and the transmit processor (427) cooperate to transmit packets. Routing is done by using information from the table look up engine (301) to determine a queue (215) in the queue management engine (305) which is to receive a descriptor (217) describing the received packet's payload.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for directing group communication in a system environment that has a plurality of discrete application nodes networked with at least one discrete memory node, establishing a shared memory providing a passive message queue. A code library permits an application node member of a group to assemble a message selected from the group of send, join, leave, or read. The send, join and leave messages permit a first application node to add a message to the queue for all members of a group including the first application node at the time the message was added. The instruction set permitting the addition of the message is executed atomically.

Abstract: To provide a storage system with a cost/performance meeting the system scale, from a small-scale to a large-scale configuration. In the storage system, protocol transformation units and data caching control units are connected to each other through an interconnection, the data caching control units are divided into plural control clusters, each of the control clusters including at least two or more data caching control units, control of a cache memory is conducted independently for each of the control clusters, and one of the plural data caching control units manages, as a single system, protocol transformation units and the plural control clusters based on management information stored in a system management information memory unit.

Abstract: A storage server in a storage area network (SAN) environment connecting host computers and storage devices. The storage server includes a plurality of storage processors and a switching circuit. Data is routed between the storage processors via the switching circuit according to routing tags. The routing tags are examined prior to completely receiving the data, allowing the data to be routed with minimal delay.

Abstract: A slave interface unit controls the exchange of data between a master processing unit and a plurality of slave processing units operating in the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) of operation. The ATM slave interface unit has a receive unit and a transmit unit that exchange data cells and control signals with the ATM master processing unit. The receive unit and the transmit unit are coupled to a receive buffer storage unit and a transmit buffer storage unit, respectively. The receive buffer storage unit and the transmit buffer storage unit exchange data and control signals with the direct memory access unit. The ATM slave interface unit includes a configuration interface unit having a register that identifies the location in the data cell where the destination address is located and relates the destination address to the particular processing unit or memory location. The receive buffer unit uses the information in the register to determine the destination of the data cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing multiple transmission bandwidth streams with differentiated quality of service on a inter-machine trunk. One approach includes time-division multiplexing. Another approach includes statistical multiplexing. Another approach includes packet segmentation. The approaches are commercially important because they significantly reduce time-delay variation.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and apparatus for conducting direct data placement of network message data to a final destination in a user buffer are disclosed. Generally, the invention is configured to conduct direct data copying from a NIC memory to a final destination user buffer location without any intermediate copying to a kernel buffer. The invention includes a method that involves receiving network delivered messages by a NIC of a local computer. The message is stored in the memory of the NIC. The headers are stripped from the message and processed. A ULP handler of the local computer is invoked to process the ULP header of the network message. Using information obtained from the processed ULP header, suitable memory locations in a user buffer are identified and designated for saving associated message data. The message data is then directly placed from the NIC memory to the designated memory location in the user buffer without intermediate copy steps like DMA.

Abstract: This switch comprises a central buffer memory (30) for temporarily storing the data traffic which it receives, the time for performing the routings and for carrying out the resendings of the messages that it receives. It is noteworthy in that its central buffer memory (30) and the accesses to this buffer memory (30) by its various input/output ports are managed by a sequencer (40) in such a way as to have an implicit measure of the timescale for storing the messages in the central buffer memory (30) and to minimize the number of switchings which generate consumption and electromagnetic disturbances. Advantageously, the buffer memory is embodied with the aid of several modules (A, B, C, D) operating in parallel.

Abstract: Provided is a method for transferring data among a logical layer, physical layer, and storage device. The logical layer allocates a buffer to use to write data to a storage device. The physical layer manages access to the storage device. The logical layer determines an offset into the buffer based on a length of a physical header written by the physical layer and writes data to the buffer from the determined offset. The physical layer writes physical header information, wherein the physical header information does not extend past the offset in the buffer. The physical layer transfers content from the buffer to the storage device.