Patent ID: 8190731

Claim:
A network statistics processing device for a communication network, comprising: a port processing unit that receives statistical metrics carried by input Protocol Data Units (PDUs) and transmits output PDUs that carry results, the port processing unit comprising: a plurality of ports that receive the input PDUs and transmit the output PDUs, wherein each port of the plurality of ports supports a different PDU format, an input buffer that temporarily stores said input PDUs, a plurality of port processors, each port processor of the plurality of port processors connected to a respective port of the plurality of ports, wherein each port processor is configured to convert said input PDUs into processed PDUs and to convert statistical results into processed results, a forward multiplexer that selectively transmits said input PDUs or said processed PDUs as an update, a reverse multiplexer that selectively transmits said statistical results or said processed results as said output PDUs, and an output buffer that temporarily stores said output PDUs before sending said output PDUs to a respective port of the plurality of ports; an arbitration unit that receives said transmitted update from said forward multiplexer and transmits a stream of updates; a memory unit that stores said statistical results; and a statistical monitoring and processing unit that receives said stream of updates from said arbitration unit, receives said stored statistical results from said memory unit, and transmits said received statistical results to said port processing unit.