초록 ▼

A high performance scalable networking bridge/router system is based on a backbone communication medium and message passing process which interconnects a plurality of input/output modules. The input/output modules vary in complexity from a simple network interface device having no switching or routi

A high performance scalable networking bridge/router system is based on a backbone communication medium and message passing process which interconnects a plurality of input/output modules. The input/output modules vary in complexity from a simple network interface device having no switching or routing resources on board, to a fully functional bridge/router system. Also, in between these two extremes input/output modules which support distributed protocol processing are supported. A central internetworking engine includes a shared memory resource coupled to the backbone. The architecture includes a physical layer communication system for transferring control messages and data packets across the backbone, a logical layer interprocessor messaging system which operates over the physical layer across the backbone for communication between intelligent input/out modules, and between such modules in the central internetworking engine, and distributed protocol modules which are supported on intelligent input/output modules, and communicate using the logical interprocessor messaging system with the central internetworking resources.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus of interconnecting a plurality of networks, comprising:a plurality of input/output systems, having input/output ports for physical connections to a diversity of networks operating with a plurality of routed network protocols, said input/output systems having

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus of interconnecting a plurality of networks, comprising:a plurality of input/output systems, having input/output ports for physical connections to a diversity of networks operating with a plurality of routed network protocols, said input/output systems having a plurality of variant sets of processing resources;an interprocessor messaging system, coupled with the plurality of input/output systems, including a logical layer and a physical layer, for transferring data-in-transit and control signals among the plurality of input/output systems; anddistributed processing services in the plurality of input/output systems, including for respective sets of routing decisions according to corresponding routed network protocols in the plurality of routed network protocols a central routing resource in a processor coupled to the interprocessor messaging system, and a distributed protocol module in a given input/output system in the plurality of input/output systems, in which the distributed protocol module supports a subset of the respective set of routing decisions for the corresponding routed network protocol and relies on communications across the interprocessor messaging system with the central routing resource for routing decisions not in the subset of the set of routing decisions for the corresponding routed network protocol.