Claims
- 1. A method for multicasting a data frame comprising:
preparing m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent; providing the m copies as output; providing the original input frame as output with an indication that the frame should be returned for further processing; discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed; and repeating until t copies have been sent.
- 2. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 further comprising determining the number of copies m to be prepared.
- 3. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on the number of copies of the frame that have already been sent.
- 4. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on the total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent.
- 5. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on a traffic level.
- 6. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on a priority level associated with the frame.
- 7. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein the m copies of the frame are prepared by a network processor.
- 8. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein the m copies of the frame are queued up to be sent to their respective destinations using a traffic manager.
- 9. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein the m copies of the frame are sent to their respective destination using a traffic manager.
- 10. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 further comprising receiving the frame back and preparing the next set of m copies in response to receiving the frame back.
- 11. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein a copy of the frame may be different than one or more other copies of the frame.
- 12. A device for multicasting a data frame comprising:
an input interface configured to receive the frame; and a frame processor configured to:
prepare m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent; provide the m copies as output; provide the original input frame as output with an indication that the frame should be returned for further processing; and discontinue processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed.
- 13. A device as in claim 12 wherein the processing further comprises a further iteration of preparing m copies of the frame, providing the m copies as output, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed.
- 14. A device as in claim 13 in which successive iterations of receiving the frame, preparing m copies, providing the m copies as output, providing the original frame as output, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed are completed until all t copies of the frame have been prepared and provided as output.
- 15. A device for queuing data frames for delivery to a destination via a switch fabric, comprising:
an input interface configured to receive processed data frames from a network packet processor device; and a packet routing engine configured to determine with respect to each processed data frame received whether the frame should be queued for delivery to its destination or returned to the network packet processor for further processing.
- 16. A computer program product for multicasting a data frame, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
preparing m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent; providing the m copies as output; providing the original input frame as output with an indication that the frame should be returned for further processing; discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed; and repeating until t copies have been sent.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/465,653 (Attorney Docket No. TIMEP007+) entitled MANAGING NETWORK PACKET PROCESSOR AND NETWORK TRAFFIC MANAGER INTERACTIONS Apr. 25, 2003 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60465653 |
Apr 2003 |
US |