Patent ID: 6108342
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G06F,G11C,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
In an integrated multiport network switch comprising an integrated chip having a plurality of ports for transmitting data to and receiving data from a data network, each port having associated therewith a media access controller (MAC), a method comprising the steps of:generating management information base (MIB) data at the MAC of one of said ports, said MIB data being related to predefined parameters for each transmission of data and reception of data at the respective port;accumulating said MIB data generated by each MAC in temporary storage on said chip; andperiodically updating a memory external to said chip with the MIB data temporarily accumulated, wherein said generating step comprises:forming a MIB report frame having a prescribed format in which each predefined parameter is allocated to a respective field of the report frame, said temporary storage having portions allocated to said predefined parameters for respective ports; and said accumulating step comprises:adding data from the MIB report frame to corresponding portions of said temporary storage.