Patent ID: 6775706
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A multi-protocol switching system, comprising:(1) a plurality of line interfaces each comprising: a) an input section for inputting data from a network, b) a forwarding table, c) a determination section for determining a destination of the input data based on the content of a header of the input data and the content of said forwarding table, d) a packet generating section for generating a packet, i) under a first condition when the destination determined by said determination section is a protocol processor, by adding to the input data a processor identifier of the protocol processor as the destination in a multi-protocol processing device and a port number, identifying a first port to which the multi-protocol processing device equipped with the protocol processor is connected, or ii) under a second condition when the destination determined by said determination section is a line interface, by adding to the input data a port number, identifying a second port to which the line interface as the destination is connected, and e) an output section for outputting the packet through the port to a switch; and (1) said switch connected to each of said plurality of line interfaces and to said multi-protocol processing device for forwarding the packet to one of the first and second ports which corresponds to the port number included in the packet; and (3) said multi-protocol processing device comprising: a) a switch interface for inputting/outputting the packet to/from said switch through the first port, b) a plurality of protocol processors which are provided corresponding to the kind of protocol and each of which has a processor identifier defined in the multi-protocol processing device, and c) a processor selecting section for outputting the packet input through said switch interface to one of the plurality of protocol processors having the processor identifier included in the packet; wherein a protocol handled by one of said plurality of line interfaces is different from a protocol handled by another of said plurality of line interfaces.