US Patent No: 7,720,055

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method for handling IP multicast packets in network switch

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ALSO PUBLISHED AS: 20040170176
ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

A method of switching packets in a network switch includes the step of receiving a packet on a source port of a network switch. Thereafter, the method includes the step of determining whether the network switch has sufficient memory capacity to process the data packet; and if memory capacity is sufficient, then the method reads a selected portion of the packet to determine if the packet is to be sent to a mirrored port. If mirroring is determined, then the method sends the data packet to the mirrored port. The method also includes the step of determining whether the packet is to be sent to a remote CPU for further handling, and sending the data packet to the remote CPU if appropriate. The method additionally includes the step of determining whether the packet is a unicast packet, and if so, placing the packet on an internal communication channel within the network switch for appropriate storing and forwarding. If the packet is not a unicast packet, then the method determines if the packet is a multicast packet. If the packet is determined to be a multicast packet, then performing simultaneous lookups and switching using layer 2 lookup tables and addresses, and layer 3 lookup tables and addresses, thereby providing hybrid multicast handling of the packet.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
BROADCOM CORPORATIONIRVINE, CA7457

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Ambe, Shekhar San Jose, CA 125 1645
Kadambi, Shiri Los Altos, CA 66 1158

Cited Art

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Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. (1)
8,249,069 Forwarding multi-destination packets in a network with virtual port channels 0 2010
 
SONY CORPORATION (1)
7,987,359 Information communication system, information communication apparatus and method, and computer program 2 2006

Maintenance Fees

Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee due date
3.5 Year Payment $1600.00 $800.00 $400.00 Nov 18, 2013
7.5 Year Payment $3600.00 $1800.00 $900.00 Nov 18, 2017
11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 Nov 18, 2021
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Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
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