Abstract: A network switch stack configuration includes a first network switch having a plurality of data ports, a first stacking port, and a first CPU interface. A second network switch has a plurality of data ports, a second stacking port, and a second CPU interface. A common CPU is connected to the first CPU interface and the second CPU interface, such that the first stacking port and the second stacking port are communicatively connected. Therefore incoming packets on any of the plurality of data ports on the first and second switches can be effectively switched to any of the plurality of data ports on either of the first and second network switches.

Abstract: A network device for monitoring a memory partitioned by an identifier can include at least one port configured to receive at least one packet. The at least one packet includes an identifier relating to priority of the at least one packet. The network device can also include a buffer memory having at least one buffer configured to store the at least one packet, and a counter configured to modify a counter value therein when the buffer memory is accessed with respect to the at least one data packet, wherein the counter corresponds to the identifier with respect to the at least one packet.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a first data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. A second data port interface is also provided supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. A common memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and communicates data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an common memory. At least two sets of communication channels are provided, with each of the communication channels communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: A method for avoiding out-of-ordering of frames in a network, wherein the method includes the steps of providing at least one first type of queue in a network switch, providing at least one second type of queue in a network switch, and receiving an incoming packet. The method further includes first storing the incoming packet in the at least one first type of queue if the packet is from a first source, second storing the incoming packet in the at least one second type of queue if the packet is from a second source, and sending the incoming packet to a desired destination. Additionally, a method for avoiding out-of-ordering of frames in a network including the steps of receiving an incoming packet at a network switch, determining if the incoming packet is from a high speed source, first storing the incoming packet in a first type of queue, if the incoming packet is from said high speed source, and second storing the incoming packet in a second type of queue, if the incoming packet is from a lower speed source.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes a first data port interface. The first data port interface supports a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate. A second data port interface is provided; the second data port interface supports a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. An internal memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the at least one second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and includes an external memory interface for communicating data from at least one of the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an external memory.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches includes receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches. A module id bitmap of the incoming data packet is resolved and a bit corresponding to the first switch of the module id bitmap is examined to determine if the bit is set. A destination address of the incoming data packet is resolved when the corresponding bit is set and the incoming data packet is forwarded or dropped based on the destination address. When the corresponding bit is not set, the incoming data packet is forwarded to a next switch of the series of network switches. A network switch configured to allow for cascading of data packets is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network switch that has a plurality of input ports that receive data packets. An external interface is connected to the plurality of input ports. The external interface externally transmits the data packets for processing, and receives the data packets after processing. A memory management unit is connected to the external interface and a plurality of output ports are connected to the memory management unit.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches includes receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches. A module id bitmap of the incoming data packet is resolved and a bit corresponding to the first switch of the module id bitmap is examined to determine if the bit is set. A destination address of the incoming data packet is resolved when the corresponding bit is set and the incoming data packet is forwarded or dropped based on the destination address. When the corresponding bit is not set, the incoming data packet is forwarded to a next switch of the series of network switches. A network switch configured to allow for cascading of data packets is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network switch that has a plurality of input ports that receive data packets. An external interface is connected to the plurality of input ports. The external interface externally transmits the data packets for processing, and receives the data packets after processing. A memory management unit is connected to the external interface and a plurality of output ports are connected to the memory management unit.

Abstract: A network device for monitoring a memory partitioned by an identifier can include at least one port configured to receive at least one packet. The at least one packet includes an identifier relating to priority of the at least one packet. The network device can also include a buffer memory having at least one buffer configured to store the at least one packet, and a counter configured to modify a counter value therein when the buffer memory is accessed with respect to the at least one data packet, wherein the counter corresponds to the identifier with respect to the at least one packet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for switching VOIP packets in a data network, wherein the method includes the steps of receiving a first packet in a network switch and determining if the first packet is a VOIP packet. Further, method includes determining a dynamically negotiated VOIP port for a VOIP session from at least one of the first packet and a second packet received in the network switch, if the first packet is determined to be the VOIP packet. Finally, the method includes the steps of classifying all subsequent VOIP packets corresponding to the dynamically negotiated VOIP port in accordance with predetermined parameters. The apparatus includes a network switch having at least one data port interface controller supporting a plurality of data ports for transmitting and receiving data, and a fast filtering processor in communication with the at least one data port interface.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes a first data port interface, supporting a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate. A second data port interface supporting a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A CPU interface communicating with a CPU, an internal memory, a memory management having an external memory interface, and a communication channel are provided. A plurality of lookup tables having address resolution lookup/layer three lookup, rules tables, and VLAN tables are provided. One of the data port interfaces is configured to update the address resolution table based on newly learned layer to addresses and a synchronization process per entry is provided.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications, wherein the network switch includes at least one data port interface supporting a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate and a second data rate. The at least one data port interface includes an ingress logic circuit in communication with the at least one data port interface for generating at least one of an ingress address resolution and a filtering search request. A CPU interface is provided and configured to communicate with a CPU. A shared hierarchical memory structure including an internal memory in communication with the at least one data port interface, and an external memory in communication with a memory management unit via an external memory interface is provided. A communication channel is provided for communicating data between the at least one data port interface, the internal memory, the CPU interface, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a first data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. A second data port interface is also provided supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. A common memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and communicates data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an common memory. At least two sets of communication channels are provided, with each of the communication channels communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications is disclosed. The switch includes a first data port interface, supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate and a second data port interface supporting a at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. The switch also has a CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU and a memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of the first and second data port interfaces and a memory. It also has a communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between the first and second data port interfaces and the memory management unit and a plurality of semiconductor-implemented lookup tables including an address resolution lookup table, a multicast table, an IP multicast table and VLAN tables.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes at least one first data port interface, wherein the a least one first data port interface supports a plurality of first data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate. At least one second data port interface is provided, wherein the at least one second data port interface supports a plurality of second data ports transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A flow control unit is provided, wherein at least one of the first data ports and at least one of the second data ports are linked together with a plurality of ports on a second network switch forming a trunk group that is configured by the flow control unit to statistically distribute a data load transmitted across the trunk group.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches is disclosed. An incoming data packet is received at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches and a stack tag is resolved from a header of the incoming data packet. It is then determinined whether an incoming data packet is a unicast packet, a multicast packet or an IP multicast packet; and the address resolution lookup and layer three IP lookup tables are searched to find an egress port for the incoming data packet. The packet header is modified and the packet is forwarded to at least a second switch of the series of network switches, on a stacked connection operating at a first data rate, based on the stack tag and the egress port. The header is later remodified when the egress port is one of a series of data ports of a particular switch of the series of switches.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a first data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. A second data port interface is also provided supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. A common memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and communicates data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an common memory. A communication channel is provided, with the communication channel communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable to a unified wired/wireless network device are proposed to address quality of service issues and roaming support for wired and wireless clients in a unified wired/wireless network. The proposed solution can include a hierarchical scheduler and shaper mechanism that is able to flexibly support different quality of service disciplines, i.e., strict-priority, guaranteed bandwidth, deficit-round-robin, etc., to allow different levels of maximum and minimum bandwidth allocation to each user or group of users. The solution can also include a dynamic queue assignment mechanism that allows queues to be moved from one queue-group and/or port to another queue-group and/or port, without losing packets, when a wireless client roams between access points within the unified network.

Abstract: A network device for handling data and a method for handling data in a network device are disclosed. The network device includes at least one media port and at least one high speed docking station, communicating with the at least one media port. At least one master is provided in the network device, where the at least one master is connected to the at least one high speed docking station. The master is configured to handle and process data received by the at least one media port and passed to the master through the at least one high speed docking station. The network device is configured to handle media ports of different media types. Thus, the device can handle data received through different media ports that have different media types with the same master, making the network device easily configured to meet a customer's needs.