Patent ID: 6272144
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for controlling a switch including at least one line card, the method comprising the steps of:monitoring a stream of cells received by the line card, each of at least a subset of the cells including a header and a payload;identifying at least one of the cells as including in its corresponding payload at least a portion of a control message directed to the line card from a processor in the switch;executing a command associated with the control message in the line card, the execution of the command configuring the line card in a desired mode of operation at least in part by directing the writing of command-related payload data from the control message to designated locations in a memory of the line card, the memory locations being designated at least in part in the control message; andsending, in at least a portion of at least one cell directed from the line card to the processor, a response to the control message.