Patent ID: 6891843
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network switch arrangement comprising: a plurality of multiport network switches each having a corresponding local buffer memory; a data path circuit having a pluralities of bidirectional data rings separately and respectively connected to each of the plural of network switches, the data path rings for transferring data units of a data frame form at least one of the multiport network switches to at least another one of the multiport network switches for storage of the transferred data units in the at least another one of the multiport network switches; wherein each of the plurality of network switches has a corresponding external corresponding local buffer memory, each external memory interface-also configured to read and write segments to each local buffer memory associated with a corresponding network switch and transfer and receive data units over at least one of the plurality of data path rings; and wherein each memory interface is configured for segmenting a received data frame into a prescribed number of data units, the prescribed number corresponding to a number of network switches in the network switch arrangement.