Patent ID: 7684390
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: an integrated circuit configured for communicating with at least one external device using at least one port, wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one probe port, the integrated circuit is also configured for receiving at least one data packet and generating at least one probe packet, the integrated circuit is also configured for generating at least one probe packet device vector and transmitting the probe packet and the probe packet device vector to at least one said probe port of said external device via said at least one port; the integrated circuit comprises device vector forwarding engine circuitry configured for reading a device reachability table and at least one probe port location register, and of generating said probe packet device vector, the device reachability table comprising one or more data entries indicating which port among a plurality of ports is used by the integrated circuit to forward the probe packet to the at least one external device, and the probe port location register comprising one or more data entries indicating the one or more external devices comprising the probe ports.