Patent ID: 7580354
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for routing frames in a network, using a fibre channel switch element, comprising: (a) receiving a portion of a frame in a receive buffer of a port from among a plurality of ports for the fibre channel switch element; where each port includes a receive segment with a receive buffer to receive the frame and a transmit segment to transmit the frame; (b) determining a frame length threshold value for the port; wherein the frame length threshold value is used to determine a length of the frame that has to be received at the receive buffer, before the frame is sent to the transmit segment of another port of the fibre channel switch element that transmits the frame; and wherein a different frame length threshold value is used for different port operating speed; (c) setting up status indicator that is based on the port's operating speed, the frame length threshold value and an operating speed of the another port from where the frame is scheduled to be transmitted; and (d) sending the status indicator to the transmit segment of the another port that uses the status indicator to determine when to request the frame from the port that received the frame in step (a); wherein if a cut status in the status indicator does not match an operating speed of the another port, then the transmit segment of the another port selects a frame from a different source port and before transmitting the frame, tests a cut status of the newly selected frame to determine if the cut status matches the operating speed of the another port.