Patent ID: 6731631
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for updating a switching table in a switch fabric, comprising:(a) receiving at a switch fabric component one or more status packets from at least one port controller and a plurality of other switch fabric components, wherein each status packet includes information relating to a status of at least one output port and control information, wherein the information relating to a status of at least output port indicates whether or not the output port is available for receiving, for output therefrom, a datagram transmitted through the switch fabric, and wherein the status packets are received without utilization of a handshaking protocol; and (b) updating a switching table in the switch fabric component based on the status information of the received status packets, and wherein the switching table provides information for identifying the availability of one or more ports of the switch fabric component for outputting datagram therefrom.