Patent ID: 6483841
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A device for processing the forwarding of the packet header received by each input port of an Ethernet switch to an output port buffer unit of length N, the Ethernet switch comprises M input ports, and Q output ports, the number of the output port buffer units is L, said device comprising:J of temporary buffer units each of length K, where J and K being integers; and a processor for forwarding the packet header received by said input port to a corresponding output buffer unit in case said corresponding output buffer unit is in a first state, said corresponding output buffer unit is one said output port buffer unit corresponding to said packet header, and forwarding, in case said corresponding output buffer unit is in a second state, said packet header to a corresponding temporary buffer unit which is one said temporary buffer unit in a first state, and forwarding the packet header in said temporary buffer unit to the output port buffer unit having at least an available memory unit and corresponding to the packet header in said temporary buffer unit.