Patent ID: 7239641

Claim:
A method for sending Fibre Channel data frames through a Fibre Channel switch, the Fibre Channel switch comprising a plurality of small switches, the Fibre Channel data frames having a source and a destination, the destination being used for routing the Fibre Channel data frame, comprising: receiving the Fibre Channel data frame from the source at a first small switch; choosing a first virtual channel from a set of possible virtual channels, each virtual channel of the set of possible virtual channels being available for use with general data flow; providing information in addition to the Fibre Channel data frame to identify the first virtual channel; and sending the Fibre Channel data frame and the additional information identifying the first virtual channel from the first small switch to a second small switch, wherein: the additional information identifying the first virtual channel is included in an inter-frame fill word; and the inter-frame fill word is sent from the first small switch to the second small switch prior to the Fibre Channel data frame.