초록 ▼

A network switch routes data transmissions between network stations, each data transmission including network addresses of the source and destination network stations. The network switch includes a set of input/output (I/O) ports each for receiving data transmissions from and transmitting data trans

A network switch routes data transmissions between network stations, each data transmission including network addresses of the source and destination network stations. The network switch includes a set of input/output (I/O) ports each for receiving data transmissions from and transmitting data transmissions to a subset of the network stations. Each I/O port is identified by a "physical" port ID and a "logical" port ID. While each I/O port's physical port ID is unique, all I/O ports that can route data to the same subset of network stations share the same logical port ID. Each I/O port receiving a data transmission from a network station sends its logical port ID and the network addresses included in the data transmission to an address translation system. The address translation system uses data in the translation request to maintain a lookup table relating each subset of network addresses to a logical port ID identifying all I/O ports that communicate with network stations identified by that subset of network address. The address translation system responds to an address translation request by returning the logical port ID of all I/O ports that can send data transmissions to a destination station identified by the destination address included in the data transmission. In response to the returned logical port ID, the network switch establishes a data path for the data transmission from the I/O port receiving the data transmission and any idle I/O port having that logical port ID.

대표청구항 ▼

[What is claimed is:] [1.]an address translation system; anda plurality of input/output (I/O) ports,wherein each I/O port communicates with a subset of said network stations including receiving data transmissions from and forwarding data transmissions to network stations of said subset,wherein each

[What is claimed is:] [1.]an address translation system; anda plurality of input/output (I/O) ports,wherein each I/O port communicates with a subset of said network stations including receiving data transmissions from and forwarding data transmissions to network stations of said subset,wherein each I/O port is identified by a logical port ID referencing the subset of network stations with which it communicates, with more than one of said of I/O ports communicating with a similar subset of network stations and being identified by a similar logical port ID,wherein each I/O port upon receiving a data transmission from a network station sends a network address included in the data transmission to said address translation system, andwherein said address translation system generates in response to the sent network address a logical port ID identifying a set of I/O ports that communicate with a network station identified by the sent network address.