Patent ID: 6154446
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: H04L,Y02D,Y10S

Abstract:
A network switch for network communications, said network switch comprising:a first data port interface, said first data port interface supporting a first plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate;a second data port interface, said second data port interface supporting a second plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate;a CPU interface, said CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU;an internal memory, said internal memory communicating with said first data port interface and said at least one second data port interface;a memory management unit, said memory management unit including an external memory interface for communicating data from at least one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface and an external memory;a communication channel, said communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between said first data port interface, said second data port interface, said CPU interface, said internal memory, and said memory management unit,wherein one data port interface of said first data port interface and said second data port interface includes a head-of-line blocking prevention mechanism, said head-of-line blocking prevention mechanism including determination means for determining when head-of-line blocking is occurring based upon cell based and packet based thresholds.