Network switching device

Abstract

A network switching device includes packet switching means and clock signal providing means. The packet switching means receive packets sent from any of the plurality of lines, determines forwarding destinations for the received packets, and forwards the received packets. The packet switching means operates synchronized with a provided clock signal. The clock signal providing means provides the clock signal to the packet switching means. The clock signal providing means is capable of switching a frequency of at least a portion of the clock signal for being provided to the packet switching means to multiple different values.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the basic structure of a network device pertaining to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the internal structure of the system management block;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the structure focusing on an interface board and a switching board;

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of one part of the contents of a settings file;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a processing routine in a startup process;

FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram for explaining the traffic load basis running mode and the periodic basis running mode;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the processing routine in a frequency control process in the traffic load basis running mode;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a processing routine in a frequency control process in the periodic basis running mode;

FIG. 9 shows a figure for explaining an auto negotiation function that automatically coordinates the line speeds/communications modes of a line between a pair of mutually connected devices;

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a processing routine in a frequency control process in the line speed basis running mode;

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of the structure of a network switching device pertaining to a first variation;

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of the structure of a network switching device pertaining to a second variation.

Claims

1. A network switching device comprising: at least one interface block, connected respectively to at least one line, that receive packet with associated destination-address information and send packet to a forwarding destination, wherein the at least one interface block is capable of changing operation to operation modes with different levels of power consumption;at least one switching block that determines the forwarding destination of the received packet based on the destination-address information associated with the received packets., wherein the at least one switching block is capable of changing operation to operation modes with different levels of power consumption; anda mode management block capable of managing the operation modes of the at least one interface block and the operation modes of the at least one switching block independently.

2. A network switching device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switching block comprises: at least one first clock generator that generates selectively a plurality of types of first clock signals having different frequencies; andat least one constituent circuit that operate synchronized with the generated first clock signals,and wherein the mode management block controls the at least one first clock generator to change a frequency of the generated first clock signals to change the operation mode of the at least one switching block.

3. A network switching device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one switching block comprises: at least one second clock generator that generates selectively a plurality of types of second clock signals having different frequencies;a plurality of the constituent circuits; anda first bus for sending data between each of the constituent circuits, the first bus operating synchronized with the generated second clock signals,and wherein the mode management block further controls the at least one second clock generator to change a frequency of the generated second clock signals to change the operation mode of the at least one switching block.

4. A network switching device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of the constituent circuits includes a packet processing block that performs transmission and reception of data, including the packet, to and from the at least one interface block, and a routing control block that determines the forwarding destination for packet received from the packet processing block,wherein the first bus is a bus for sending data between the packet processing block and the routing control block,and wherein the mode management block changes, as a set, each frequency of the first clock signals generated for the packet processing block, the first clock signals generated for the routing control block, and the second clock signals generated for the bus sending data between the packet processing block and the routing control block.

5. A network switching device according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one third clock generator that generates selectively a plurality of types of third clock signals having different frequencies; anda second bus for sending data between the at least one interface block and the at least one switching block, the second bus operating synchronized with the generated third clock signals,wherein the mode management block further controls the at least one third clock generator to change a frequency of the generated third clock signals to change the operation mode of the second bus.

6. A network switching device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interface block comprises: at least one fourth clock generator that generates selectively a plurality of types of fourth clock signals having different frequencies; andat least one TxRx processing block that operates synchronized with the generated fourth clock signals, the at least one TxRx processing block forwarding the packet received from the at least one line to the at least one switching block, the at least one TxRx processing block directing the packet turned back from the at least one switching block into the at least one line,wherein the management block further controls the at least one fourth clock generator to change a frequency of the generated fourth clock signals to change the operation mode of the at least one interface block.

7. A network switching device according to claim 1, wherein the network switching device is capable of running with multiple types of running modes through changing some or all of the operation modes of the at least one interface block and the at least one switching block,and wherein the multiple types of running modes are switched depending on the traffic load in the network switching device.

8. A network switching device according to claim 7 further comprising a packet traffic detector that detects the packet traffic that is received or sent by the network switching device,wherein the switching of the multiple types of running modes is performed in accordance with the detected packet traffic.

9. A network switching device according to claim 7 further comprising a memory that stores time information pertaining to a time band wherein the traffic is high and pertaining to a time band wherein the traffic is low,wherein the switching of the multiple types of running modes is performed by referencing the time information.

10. A network switching device according to claim 7 further comprising a line speed detector that detects the line speed of the at least one connected line,wherein the switching of the multiple types of running modes is performed depending on the detected line speed.

11. A network switching device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of the interface blocks, wherein of the plurality of the interface blocks, a interface block that are not operating are recorded in advance,and wherein power that is supplied to the recorded interface block is reduced or stopped.

12. A network switching device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interface block includes a plurality of physical interface blocks that respectively connects to one of the lines,wherein of the lines, a line that are not operating are recorded in advance,and wherein power that is applied to a physical interface block, of the plurality of physical interface blocks, that correspond to the recorded line is reduced or stopped.

13. A network switching device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of the switching blocks, wherein at least one of the plurality of the switching blocks is a redundant switching block used when a failure occurs in another switching block of the plurality of the switching blocks,and wherein on a period of time wherein the redundant switching block is not used, at least a portion of clock signals provided to the redundant switching block is stopped.

14. A network switching device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switching block include a plurality of constituent circuits having an identical function,and wherein in response to a traffic load on the network switching device, supply of clock signals to at least a portion of the plurality of constituent circuits is stopped.

15. A network switching device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of the switching blocks, wherein the plurality of the switching blocks are capable of executing process regarding the packets independently,and wherein in response to a traffic load in the network switching device, supply of clock signal to at least a portion of the plurality of switching blocks is stopped.

16. A network switching device connected to a plurality of lines, the network switching device comprising: a packet switching means for receiving packets sent from any of the plurality of lines, for determining forwarding destinations for the received packets, and for forwarding the received packets, wherein the packet switching means operates synchronized with a provided clock signal, anda clock signal providing means for providing the clock signal to the packet switching means, wherein the clock signal providing means is capable of switching a frequency of at least a portion of the clock signal for being provided to the packet switching means to multiple different values.

17. A network switching device according to claim 16, wherein the packet switching means include a first circuit and a second circuit that perform at least a portion of the functions of the packet switching means, and forwarding means for forwarding data between the first circuit and the second circuit,and wherein the clock signal providing means change, as a set, a frequency of the clock signal for being provided to the first circuit, a frequency of the clock signal for being provided to the second circuit, and a frequency of the clock signal for being provided to the forwarding means.

18. A network switching device according to claim 16 further comprising a packet traffic load detecting means for detecting a traffic load of the packets that are received or sent using the packet switching means,wherein the clock signal providing means change, depending on the detected packet traffic load, the frequency of at least a portion of the clock signal for being provided to the packet switching means.

19. A network switching device according to claim 16 further comprising a memory means for storing time information related to a time band wherein the traffic is high and a time band wherein the traffic is low,wherein the clock signal providing means reference the time information to change the frequency of at least a portion of the clock signal for being provided to the packet switching means.

20. A network switching device according to claim 16 further comprising a line speed detecting means for detecting line speed of the connected lines,wherein the clock signal providing means change, depending on the detected line speed, the frequency of at least a portion of the clock signal for being provided to the packet switching means.