Switch and switching method

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is related to a switch used for receiving and transmitting data between lines in information communication systems.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] Major types of the information communication systems, especially LAN such as Ethernet and ATM-LAN, have used a transmission line shared with all terminals. However, increase in quantity of data to be received and transmitted over LAN and increase in the number of terminals connected to LAN have increased the difficulty of obtaining sufficient transmission capacity in LAN of this type. This fact has recently encouraged the use of a LAN switch in systems so that each terminal can use the whole band of the transmission line which is available for transmission thereby solving the above-described problem.

[0006] A conventional LAN switch, however, performs data switching on the transmission line by software processing using a processor, so that it is difficult to improve processing capabilities. For example, a bottle neck in a switch device may limit the band for transmission, although, properly considering performance of the transmission line, the full bond is available for transmission.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is related to a switch comprising: a first unit for receiving data from a first line from which data is sent, and recognizing a second line to which data is sent on the basis of the received data; a buffer region shared with the first and second lines, for storing the data received from the first line; a register for storing information related to an address of the data stored in the buffer region and the lines from and to which the data is sent; and a second unit for reading out the data from the buffer region in accordance with the information and transmitting the data to the second line.

[0008] Preferably, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the buffer region is formed in a first memory region connected to each of the first and second units via a first bus; and the register is formed in a second memory region, different from the first memory region, connected to each of the first and second units via a second bus different from the first bus.

[0009] Preferably, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the second memory region is formed in the first and second units, respectively; and the information is transferred via a signal line connecting the first and second units in series.

[0010] Preferably, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the line from which data is sent consists of a plurality of the lines from which data is sent; and the register, included in the second memory region separately formed in the second unit, holds the information for each of the lines from which data is sent.

[0011] Preferably, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second unit and the second line are paired up and the pair consists of a plurality of the pairs; the signal line connects a plurality of the second units in series; and one of the second units transmits the information to the signal line when receiving the information indicating that data is to be sent to the second line corresponding to another of the second units.

[0012] Preferably, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the second memory region further includes a table for storing destination information and transfer information associated with each other.

[0013] Preferably, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the data has a fixed length.

[0014] Preferably, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the data is divided in appropriate size to be stored in the buffer region; and the divided data are controlled in chain.

[0015] A ninth aspect of the present invention is related to a switching method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data from a first line from which data is sent, and recognizing a second line to which data is sent on the basis of the received data; (b) transferring the data to a buffer region shared with the first and second lines; (c) storing information related to an address of the data stored in the buffer region and the lines from and to which data is sent, into a register; and (d) reading out the data from the buffer region in accordance with the information, and transmitting the data to the second line.

[0016] In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the switch can be structured by hardware. Further, since the buffer region is shared with the first and second lines, copy of data between the first and second units is unnecessary, realizing high-speed switching. Furthermore, stored in the register as information, both lines from and to which data is sent can be grasped.

[0017] In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the first and second memory regions are separately formed and connected to each of the first and second units via the first and second buses, respectively. This relieves difference in speed between the first and second memories, and bottle neck caused by difference in transfer capability between the first and second buses. Further, since the first and second buses are physically different from each other, an optimum bus in width can be adopted for each applied system.

[0018] In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the information related to an address of data in the buffer region or the like is transferred between units via the serial signal line, so that the number of external terminals connected to each of the first and second units can be reduced.

[0019] Further, since the first and second units, connected via the signal lines, and the second memory region are connected via respective buses, bottle neck related to a single bus can be relieved compared to the case where the first and second units share the second memory region and are connected thereto via a single bus.

[0020] In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if there is a plurality of the lines from which data is sent, the second unit can recognize a line from which data is sent.

[0021] In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if there is a plurality of the second lines to which data is sent, the information can be transferred to the second unit corresponding to a line to which data is sent. This brings about the same effect of the fourth aspect for the register of the second unit.

[0022] In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, the register and the table are formed together in the second memory region, so that the number of external terminals connected to the first and second units can be further reduced.

[0023] In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the data to be transmitted has a fixed length, a system for storing data into the buffer region can be optimized. This is especially applicable to the ATM-LAN.

[0024] In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, even if data to be transmitted has a variable length, a system for storing data into the buffer region can be optimized. This is especially applicable to Ethernet.

[0025] In accordance with the ninth aspect of the present invention, since data is switched through the buffer region shared with the first and second lines, copy of data between the first and second units is unnecessary, realizing high-speed switching. Further, the method comprises the step of storing the information related to the lines from and to which data is sent into the register, so that the lines from and to which data is sent can be grasped.

[0026] The present invention provides a switch of high-speed performance realized not by software processing but by hardware.

[0027] These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a switch according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of an NIU 50₁.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of a memory 71.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structure of a switch according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of an NIU 51₁.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating correlation between data 14athrough 14cstored in a buffer region 82 and a cue 6_ijformed in a memory 72.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a switch according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of an NIU 52₁.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a structure of a switch according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating correlation between the data 14athrough 14cstored in the buffer region 82 and the cue 6_ijformed in a memory 74.

[0038] FIG. 11 shows a format of an ATM cell 19.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of the memory 71.

[0040] FIG. 13 shows a format of a frame 20 for Ethernet.

[0041] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of the memory 71.

[0042] <First Preferred Embodiment>

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a structure of a switch with 4×4 lines according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Network Interface Units 50₁through 50₄(hereinafter referred to as NIU) are connected to terminals (not shown in FIG. 1) via lines 1athrough 4aand lines 1bthrough 4b,respectively, inputting data via the lines 1bthrough 4band outputting the data via the lines 1athrough 4a.The NIUs 50₁through 50₄are also connected to a memory 71 via a bus 91. That is, the memory 71 is shared with all the NIUs.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure of the NIU 50₁. The bus 91 and the lines 1a,1bare connected to a control unit 110. In a table 10 connected via a bus 15 to the control unit 110, destination information 12 and transfer information 13 associated with each other are stored. The destination information n, for example, corresponds to the transfer information k. The NIUs 50₂through 50₄basically have the same structure as the NIU 50₁.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a detailed structure of the memory 71. The memory 71 includes a buffer region 81 and cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄(shown simply as “6_ij” in FIG. 3). The buffer region 81 temporarily stores data 14athrough 14cto be transmitted, and the cue 6_ijis a register for storing a pointer to an address of each data 14a,14b,14cstored in the buffer region 81 as well as other information such as data length. The cue 6_ijis provided for each combination of lines from and to which data is sent. More specifically, the cue 6_ijstores a pointer to an address of data transmitted from the line i to the line j along with other information. For example, when data is transmitted from the line 1 to the line 2, the pointer is stored in the cue 6₁₂with other information.

[0046] Operation of data transmitted from the line 1bto the line 3awill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. First, data to be transmitted is inputted from a terminal (not shown in FIG. 1) via the line 1binto the control unit 110 of the NIU 50₁. The control unit 110 extracts the destination information 12 from the data, and associates the destination information 12 with the transfer information 13 in accordance with the table 10 to determine a line to which data is transmitted. Then, the control unit 110 transfers the data via the bus 91 to the buffer region 81 to be temporarily stored. After transferring the data to the buffer region 81, the control unit 110 writes the information that the data to be transmitted is stored in the buffer region 81 into the cue 6₁₃along with the pointer to the address of the data in the buffer region 81. In this case, the information is written into the cue 6₁₃because the data is transmitted from the line 1bto the line 3a.When data is transmitted to the line 1a,2aor 4a,the information is written into the cues 6₁₁, 6₁₂, or 6₁₄, respectively. The NIU 50₃appropriately checks conditions of the cues 6₁₃through 6₄₃. When there is data to be transmitted, the NIU 50₃reads out the data from the buffer region 81 on the basis of the pointer in appropriate timing, and transmits it to the line 3a.

[0047] Therefore, according to the first preferred embodiment, the switch can be realized by hardware. Further, since all the NIUs 50₁through 50₄share the buffer region 81, copy of data between the NIUs is unnecessary, realizing high-speed switching. Furthermore, since the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄are separately provided for each combination of lines, the lines from and to which data is sent can be grasped, which is especially practical for LAN.

[0048] <Second Preferred Embodiment>

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a structure of a switch according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The detail will be described below, especially pointing out the differences from the first preferred embodiment.

[0050] The first difference is that a buffer region 82 and the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄are separately formed in different memories according to the second preferred embodiment, while the buffer region 81 and the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄are formed in the same memory 71 according to the first preferred embodiment. In the switch of the second preferred embodiment, the buffer region 82 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted, and a memory 72 including the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄are connected to the NIUs 51₁through 51₄via buses 92 and 93, respectively.

[0051] Another difference is that the number of external terminals connected to the control unit of each NIU is increased by connecting the buffer region 82 and the memory 72 to the NIUs 51₁through 51₄via the buses 92, 93, respectively. FIG. 5 shows a detailed structure of the NIU 51₁. Besides the lines 1a,1band the buses 15, 92, another bus 93 is connected to a control unit 111. Thus, the control unit 111 of the second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has one more external terminal, the bus 93, compared to the control unit 110 of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The same applies to the control units of the NIUs 51₂through 51₄.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates correlation between the data 14athrough 14cstored in the buffer region 82 and the cue 6_ijformed in the memory 72. Though the buffer region 82 and the memory 72 are separately formed as described above, a pointer to an address of each data 14a,14b,14cin the buffer region 82 is stored in the cue 6_ijalong with other information such as data length, as is the case with the first preferred embodiment.

[0053] Now, operation of data transmitted from the line 1bto the line 3awill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 through 6, especially pointing out the differences from the first preferred embodiment. First, data to be transmitted is inputted from a terminal (not shown in FIG. 4) via the line 1binto the control unit 111. The control unit 111 determines a line to which data is sent on the basis of the destination information 12 extracted from the inputted data, and transfers the data via the bus 92 to the buffer region 82. After transferring the data to the buffer region 82, the control unit 111 writes the information that the data to be transmitted is stored in the buffer region 82 into the cue 6₁₃, along with a pointer to the address of the data in the buffer region 82, via the bus 93. The NIU 51₃appropriately checks the cues 6₁₃through 6₄₃. When there is data to be transmitted, the NIU 51₃reads out the data from the buffer region 82 on the basis of the pointer in appropriate timing, and transfers it to the line 3a.

[0054] Thus, in the switch of the second preferred embodiment, the buffer region 82 and the memory 72, or the bus 92 and the bus 93 are separately formed, respectively, so that difference in speed between the buffer region 82 and the memory 72 or bottle neck caused by difference in transfer capability between the buses 92 and 93 can be relieved, realizing further high-speed switching. Moreover, as the buses 92 and 93 are physically different from each other, an optimum bus in width can be adopted for each applied system.

[0055] <Third Preferred Embodiment>

[0056] In the second preferred embodiment, the number of external terminals connected to the control unit of each NIU is increased, compared to the switch of the first preferred embodiment, by connecting the buffer region 82 and the memory 72 to the NIUs 51₁through 51₄via the buses 92 and 93, respectively. For cost reduction, it is further desirable to reduce the number of the external terminals.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a structure of a switch according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows a detailed structure of an NIU 52₁. Here, the structures of NIUs 52₂through 52₄are basically the same as the NIU 52₁. The switch of the third preferred embodiment is different from that of the second preferred embodiment in the following points. First, each of the NIUs 52₁through 52₄of the third preferred embodiment has a memory 73 including the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄and individually controls the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄, while the NIU 51₁through 51₄of the second preferred embodiment are connected via the bus 93 to the memory 72 including the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄. Secondly, the information that data to be transmitted is stored in the buffer region 82 or the information related to an address of data in the buffer region 82 are transferred via serial signal lines 16₁₂through 16₄₁between the NIUs.

[0058] Now, operation of data transmitted from the line 1bto the line 3awill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, especially pointing difference from the second preferred embodiment. Data to be transmitted is inputted via the line 1binto a control unit 112. The control unit 112 determines a line to which data is sent on the basis of the destination information 12 extracted from the inputted data, and transfers the data via the bus 92 to the buffer region 82.

[0059] After transferring the data to the buffer region 82, the control unit 112 transfers the information that the data to be transmitted is stored in the buffer region 82 via the signal line 16₁₂to the NIU 52₂, along with a pointer to the address of the data in the buffer region 82. The NIU 52₂determines whether the data is sent to the line 2aor not on the basis of the transferred information. When the data is to be sent to the line 2a,the information is stored in either of the cues 6₁₂through 6₄₂, depending on the line from which the data is inputted. When the data is not to be sent to the line 2a,the information is transferred via the signal line 16₂₃to the NIU 52₃. In this example, the data is assumed to be sent to the line 3a,so that the information is transferred to the NIU 52₃.

[0060] The NIU 52₃performs the same processing as the NIU 52₂. In this example, the data is assumed to be transmitted from the line 1bto the line 3a,so that the transferred information is stored via the bus 17 to the cue 6₁₃(not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0061] The control unit 112 of the NIU 52₃appropriately checks conditions of the cues 6₁₃through 6₄₃. When there is data to be transmitted, the control unit 112 reads out the data from the buffer region 82 in appropriate timing on the basis of the pointer included in the transferred information, and transmits it to the line 3a.

[0062] In the switch of the third preferred embodiment, the information that data to be transmitted is stored in the buffer region 82 as well as other information are transferred between the NIUs not via the buses but via the serial signal lines 16₁₂through 16₄₁. Thus, it is unnecessary for the control unit of each NIU to have the bus 93 which requires a lot of external terminals depending on the number of bits in data or the like. Thus, the number of external terminals connected to the control units can be reduced compared to the switch of the second preferred embodiment, realizing cost reduction of the switch.

[0063] Moreover, in the switch of the third preferred embodiment, the memory 73 including the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄is connected to the control unit of each NIU via the bus 17 which is included in each NIU. Thus, bottle neck related to the bus 93 can be prevented in the third preferred embodiment, compared to the second preferred embodiment in which the memory 72 including the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₄is connected to each NIU via the bus 93 shared with all the NIUs.

[0064] <Fourth Preferred Embodiment>

[0065] The table 10 and the memory 73 separately formed according to the third preferred embodiment can also be formed in one memory.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows a structure of a switch according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Since the switch is basically structured as in the third preferred embodiment, only a detailed structure of an NIU 53₁which is different from the NIU 52₁of the third preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. NIUs 53₂through 53₄have the same structure as the NIU 53₁.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 9, a memory 74 connected via a bus 18 to the control unit 112 includes the table 10 and the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₁. That is, while the table 10 and the memory 73 are separately formed in the third preferred embodiment, they are formed together in the fourth preferred embodiment as the memory 74 and connected to the control unit 112 via only the bus 18.

[0068] FIG. 10 shows correlation between the data 14athrough 14cstored in the buffer region 82 and the cue 6_ijformed in the memory 74. Though the buffer region 82 and the memory 74 are separately formed in the fourth preferred embodiment, a pointer to an address of each data 14a,14b,14cin the buffer region 82 is stored in the cue 6_ijalong with other information such as data length, as described in the first preferred embodiment.

[0069] In the switch of the fourth preferred embodiment, the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₁and the table 10 are formed together in the memory 74, so that the number of external terminals connected the control unit 112, in this case, the bus 17, can be reduced compared to the third preferred embodiment in which the cues 6₁₁through 6₄₁and the table 10 are separately formed and connected to the control unit 112 via the buses 17 and 15, respectively. This results in reduction in and optimization of memory, realizing further cost reduction of the switch.

[0070] <Fifth Preferred Embodiment>

[0071] In a fifth preferred embodiment, the switch according to the first preferred embodiment is applied to an asynchronous transfer mode LAN (ATM-LAN).

[0072] FIG. 11 shows a format of an ATM cell 19 prescribed by the recommendation I.432 etc. of the ITU-T. The ATM-LAN employs the ATM cell 19 with a fixed length of 53 bytes as a unit for receiving and transmitting data, and performs switching in this unit. Further, VPI (virtual pass identifier) and VCI (virtual channel identifier) included in a 5-byte header of the ATM-LAN correspond to the destination information 12 shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the control unit 110 extracts the VPI/VCI from the ATM cell 19 inputted from the line 1b,and determines a line to which data is sent on the basis of the transfer information 13 obtained by retrieval of the table 10.

[0073] FIG. 12 shows a detailed structure of the memory 71. ATM cells 19athrough 19cto be transmitted are temporarily stored in the buffer region 81 formed in the memory 71, and a pointer to an address of each ATM cell 19a,19b,19cin the buffer region 81 is stored in the cue 6_ijalong with other information. Since data is received or transmitted in a unit of 53 bytes, the ATM cells 19athrough 19cin the buffer region 81 are all the same in size as shown in FIG. 12.

[0074] In this way, the switch of the first preferred embodiment is applicable to the ATM-LAN. That is, high-speed switch for the ATM-LAN can be realized by hardware. Further, since the ATM cells 19athrough 19cin the buffer region 81 are all the same in size, a system for storing data into the buffer region 81 can be optimized and further data length can be deleted from information to be stored in the cue 6_ij.

[0075] Though only the switch of the first preferred embodiment is applied to the ATM-LAN as an example in the above description, the switches of the second through fourth preferred embodiments are also applicable.

[0076] <Sixth Preferred Embodiment>

[0077] In a sixth preferred embodiment, the switch according to the first preferred embodiment is applied to Ethernet, a bus-type LAN in a CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access with collision detection) mode.

[0078] FIG. 13 shows a format of a frame 20 for Ethernet prescribed by the IEEE 802.3 et al. Ethernet employs the variable-length frame 20 ranging from 64 to 1518 bytes as a unit for receiving and transmitting data, and performs switching in this unit. Further, a parameter of Destination IP Address in Ethernet corresponds to the destination information 12 shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the control unit 110 extracts the “Destination IP Address” from the frame 20 for Ethernet inputted from the line 1band determines a line to which data is sent on the basis of the transfer information 13 obtained by retrieval of the table 10.

[0079] FIG. 14 shows a detailed structure of the memory 71. Though Ethernet employs the variable-length frame as a unit for receiving and transmitting data, it is not desirable to use the buffer region 81 to its maximum length, considering efficiency of the memory 71. Therefore, each frame is divided in appropriate size and controlled as a chain of data as shown in FIG. 14. That is, frames 20a,20b20care divided depending on its length into frames 20a₁, 20a₂, frame 20b,and frames 20c₁through 20c₃, respectively, to be stored in the buffer region 81. Then, a pointer to the head end of each frame 20a,20b,20cis stored in the cue 6_ijalong with other information such as data length.

[0080] In this way, the switch of the first preferred embodiment is also applicable to Ethernet. That is, high-speed switch for Ethernet can be realized by hardware.

[0081] Further, each frame is divided into appropriate size in order to adjust to Ethernet characteristics that data is received or transmitted in variable units, and those divided data are controlled in chain. This optimizes a system for storing data into the buffer region 81.

[0082] Though only the switch of the first preferred embodiment is applied to Ethernet as an example in the above description, the switches of the second through fourth preferred embodiments are also applicable.

[0083] While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is understood that numerous other modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.