Patent ID: 9282036
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method of transmitting a packet from a source switch module to a destination switch module, comprising: receiving, at the source switch module, from the destination switch module, an ordered listing of Ethernet link identifies specifying a path for transmitting packets from the source switch module to the destination switch module; upon detecting an occurrence of a predefined event, generating a packet that includes (i) the received ordered listing of Ethernet link identifiers, (ii) a second ordered listing of Ethernet link identifiers, specifying a return path for transmitting data packets from the destination switch module to the source switch module, and (iii) a set of load/store operations to be executed by the destination switch module, wherein an intermediary switch module along the path from the source switch module to the destination switch module is configured to modify the packet by inserting an Ethernet link identifier into the second portion of the packet, the Ethernet link identifier corresponding to a determined incoming Ethernet port on which the intermediary switch module received the packet; determining an Ethernet port of the source switch module on which to transmit the packet, by selecting one of the ordered listing of Ethernet link identifiers; transmitting the packet towards the destination switch module using the determined Ethernet port, wherein the destination switch module is configured to copy the set of load/store operations into an execution buffer for automatic execution; and once the set of load/store operations have been executed by the destination switch module, receiving, at the source switch module, from the destination switch module, a response packet that includes (i) the second ordered listing of Ethernet link identifiers specifying the return path from the destination switch module to the source switch module and (ii) payload data to be processed at the source switch module.