Patent ID: 7436761
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for connecting at least a first Fibre Channel device that is capable of operating at a first physical link rate to at least a second Fibre Channel device that is capable of operating at a second physical link rate that is higher than said first physical link rate, the apparatus comprising: a first port to which the at least a first Fibre Channel device operating at a first physical link rate can be connected; a second port to which the at least a second Fibre Channel device operating at a second physical link rate can be connected; a first buffer for storing data received at the first port from a said first Fibre Channel device and forwarding said data to the second port for transmission to a said second Fibre Channel device when a said first Fibre Channel device wishes to send said data to a said second Fibre Channel device; a second buffer for storing data received at the second port from a said second Fibre Channel device and forwarding said data to the first port for transmission to a said first Fibre Channel device when a said second Fibre Channel device wishes to send said data to a said first Fibre Channel device; a first bypass buffer for storing data received at the first port from a said first Fibre Channel device and causing said data to be returned to the first port when a said first Fibre Channel device wishes to send said data to another Fibre Channel device connected to the first port; and, a second bypass buffer for storing data received at the second port from a said second Fibre Channel device and causing said data to be returned to the second port when a said second Fibre Channel device wishes to send said data to another Fibre Channel device connected to the second port; whereby a said second Fibre Channel device can operate at said second physical link rate which is higher than said first physical link rate of a said first Fibre Channel device regardless of whether or not a said first Fibre Channel device is sending data words to a said second Fibre Channel device and regardless of whether or not a said second Fibre Channel device is sending data words to a said first Fibre Channel device.