Patent ID: 7760631
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing data flow through a data network packet router having a first set of routing interfaces being physical ports addressed for forward routing and each having a specific maximum capacity for packet traffic, comprising steps of: (a) creating, by a processor in the router, a second set of individually-addressed routing interfaces, fewer in number than the first set, wherein individual ones of the routing interfaces in the second set are aggregates of individual ones of the routing interfaces in the first set, and each routing interface that is an aggregate has a capacity equal to the sum of the capacities of the aggregated individual interfaces; (b) creating, by the processor, a third set of individually-addressed routing interfaces, fewer in number than the second set, wherein individual ones of the routing interfaces in the third set are aggregates of individual ones of the routing interfaces in the second set, and each routing interface that is an aggregate in the third set has a capacity equal to the sum of the capacities of the aggregated individual interfaces, with a limitation that any routing interface that is a physical port may not be made a part of more than one aggregated routing interface in the third set; (c) the processor causing the router to forward packet flow with reference only to the third set of individually-addressed routing interface and to the capacity of the routing interfaces of the third set; and d) The processor manages performance of the router by restructuring the sets of routing interfaces.