Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and systems for balancing flow across trunk groups are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include applying a correspondence between logical ports and physical ports of a switch. Other examples may include receiving at least one frame; selecting an exit port of a switch for the one frame to exit, based at least in part, on balancing flow across trunk groups; and transmitting the at least one frame.

Abstract: Autodetermination circuitry examines packets transmitted internally to an egress port of a switching device in order to learn the associated flow. The autodetermination circuitry maintains a flow memory recording the highest traffic volume flows and unlearns the flows exhibiting lower traffic volumes to make room for other higher traffic volume flows. Accordingly, as some flows decrease in traffic volume and other flows increase in traffic volume, the flows decreasing below a threshold are dropped from a flow memory, and other flows increasing in volume above the threshold are added to the flow memory. In this manner, only the most likely offending flows are maintained in the flow memory. Accordingly, when congestion is detected, the switching device can identify one or more source devices contributing the most to the congestion and take steps to alleviate the congestion by decreasing the traffic volume originating from one or more of those sources.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for logical ports in trunking are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include applying a correspondence between logical ports and physical ports of a switch.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for balancing flow across trunk groups are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include receiving at least one frame; selecting an exit port of a switch for the at least one frame to exit based, at least in part, on balancing flow across trunk groups; and transmitting the at least one frame.

Abstract: Trunk groups being assigned logical port values, with multiple physical ports designated to form the given trunk group, thus corresponding to the logical port. This provides greater flexibility in developing trunk groups. Each trunk group delivers frames in order. Routing and balancing decisions are based on the logical port not the physical port.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for routing a flow of frame in a core-edge switch configuration are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include receiving at least one frame; selecting an exit port of a switch for the at least one frame to exit based, at least in part, on balancing frame traffic in the core-edge switch configuration; and transmitting the at least one frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for filtering a plurality of frames sent between devices coupled to a fabric by Fibre Channel connections. Frames are reviewed against a set of individual frame filters. Each frame filter is associated with an action, and actions selected by filter matches are prioritized. Groups of devices are “zoned” together and frame filtering ensures that restrictions placed upon communications between devices within the same zone are enforced. Zone group filtering is also used to prevent devices not within the same zone from communicating. Zoning may also be used to create LUN-level zones, protocol zones, and access control zones. In addition, individual frame filters may be created that reference selected portions of frame header or frame payload fields.

Abstract: Accordingly, there is disclosed herein an augmented Fibre Channel (FC) frame format which may provide support for multiple fabric FC networks, and may improve the performance of modularly-constructed switches. In one embodiment, the augmented FC frame format is modulated on a carrier signal and the frame includes: a start-of-frame field; a supplementary header field that follows the start-of-frame field; a frame header field that follows the supplementary header field; a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) checksum field; and an end-of-frame field that follows the CRC checksum field. The supplementary header field may include a destination tag that identifies a target fabric to which the frame is directed. Alternatively, or in addition, the supplementary header field may include an egress port identifier that identifies a switch port through which the frame is to exit a switch. The supplementary header may also include flags to request special handling by the receiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for balancing flow across trunk groups are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include receiving at least one frame; selecting an exit port of a switch for the at least one frame to exit based, at least in part, on balancing flow across trunk groups; and transmitting the at least one frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for routing a flow of frame in a core-edge switch configuration are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include receiving at least one frame; selecting an exit port of a switch for the at least one frame to exit based, at least in part, on balancing frame traffic in the core-edge switch configuration; and transmitting the at least one frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses and/or systems for logical ports in trunking are disclosed. For example, a method of routing a flow of frames may include applying a correspondence between logical ports and physical ports of a switch.

Abstract: An inverse quantizer is provided with a reduced bit-width. In one embodiment, the inverse quantizer receives quantized DCT coefficients in sign+magnitude form with 1+11 bits of resolution, and produces reconstructed DCT coefficients with 1+11 bits of resolution. Although this is less than the theoretical minimum bit-width required to represent the entire reconstructed DCT coefficient range [−2048, 2047] mandated by the MPEG standard, certain IDCT implementations will maintain IEEE compliance when the −2048 value is replaced with −2047. (An example of one such implementation is provided in a co-pending application.) This reduces the range to [−2047, 2047]. In one embodiment, the inverse quantizer includes a dead-zone expander, a quantization multiplier, a mismatch controller, and a bit-width reducer. The dead-zone expander receives quantized coefficients with 1+11 bits of resolution, doubles them, and then increases their magnitude by one.