US5598581A — Variable latency cut through bridge for forwardin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 137 words

A cut-through bridge for connecting at least two computer networks, the networks each having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data cables wherein data packets are transmitted over the data cables, the cut-through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporally holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting a latency threshold of the buffer while the cut-through bridge is operating in the computer network, the latency threshold being that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-through bridge.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 137 words

A cut-through bridge for connecting at least two computer networks, the networks each having a plurality of computer devices interconnected by a plurality of data cables wherein data packets are transmitted over the data cables, the cut-through bridge comprising: a buffer for temporally holding the data packets; a controller for controlling said buffer such that the data packets are forwarded out of said buffer upon command from said controller; and means for adjusting a latency threshold of the buffer while the cut-through bridge is operating in the computer network, the latency threshold being that portion of each data packet which is received by the buffer prior to said controller commanding said buffer to forward that data packet, wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the latency threshold in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-through bridge.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 62 words

The bridge of claim 1, wherein: the latency threshold may be set to be within a rapid drop off portion of a probability function, the probability function describing the probability that a data packet is bad as a function of the amount of the data packet is bad as a function of the amount of the data packet which has been examined.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The bridge of claim 2, wherein: the probability function is empirically determined.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting may adjust the latency threshold dynamically.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting includes software for setting a value of the latency threshold.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The bridge of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting includes hardware for setting a value of the latency threshold.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for improving the efficiency of a computer network having a plurality of network segments therein, wherein data is communicated in the form of data packets, the method comprising: providing a cut-through bridge between the segments of the network, said cut-through bridge being configured to forward each data packet when that data packet is received by the cut-through bridge and verified as being one which should be forwarded, said cut-through bridge having a variable latency threshold point for determining the portion of that data packet that is received before being verified as one which should be forwarded; setting the variable latency threshold point to an initial value; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut-through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-thought bridge.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 156 words

A method for improving the efficiency of a computer network having a plurality of network segments therein, wherein data is communicated in the form of data packets, the method comprising: providing a cut-through bridge between the segments of the network, said cut-through bridge being configured to forward each data packet when that data packet is received by the cut-through bridge and verified as being one which should be forwarded, said cut-through bridge having a variable latency threshold point for determining the portion of that data packet that is received before being verified as one which should be forwarded; setting the variable latency threshold point to an initial value; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point while the cut-through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-thought bridge.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 7, wherein: the variable latency threshold point is varied as said bridge is used.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 7, wherein: the variable latency threshold point may be set at a point such that any runts will have been rejected as being bad before the variable latency threshold point is reached.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 7, wherein: the variable latency threshold point may be set according to empirically gathered data.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 7, wherein: the variable latency threshold point may be set as a function of a probability line, the probability line being represented by a graph plotting a probability value that the data packet should not be forwarded against an amount of the data packet that has been examined within said bridge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 11, wherein: the variable latency threshold point may be set to within a rapid drop off portion of the probability line, the rapid drop of portion being a portion of the probability line wherein the probability value of the probability line drops markedly toward zero.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 7, wherein said step of adjusting the variable threshold point may be performed dynamically.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for forwarding data packets within a cut-through bridge connecting a least two computer networks, comprising: setting a variable latency point within the cut-through bridge to an initial value; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point within the cut-through bridge while the cut-through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value such that a portion of each data packet which is received at the cut-through bridge before the cut-through bridge attempts to forward that data packet is variable according to the position of the variable latency threshold point, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-through bridge.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for forwarding data packets within a cut-through bridge connecting a least two computer networks, comprising: setting a variable latency point within the cut-through bridge to an initial value; and adjusting thereafter the variable latency threshold point within the cut-through bridge while the cut-through bridge is operating to a second value which is different from said initial value such that a portion of each data packet which is received at the cut-through bridge before the cut-through bridge attempts to forward that data packet is variable according to the position of the variable latency threshold point, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point is performed in response to a user's manual adjustment of the cut-through bridge.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: said variable latency threshold point may be set after a preamble of the data packet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: said variable latency threshold point may be set such that essentially all runts will be rejected before said variable latency threshold point is reached in each data packet, a runt being an incomplete data packet resulting from an aborted attempt to transit that data packet.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: in said step of adjusting said variable latency threshold point is adjustable according to data obtained during the operation of the bridge.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: in said step of adjusting said variable latency threshold point may be set by software from a computer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 18, wherein: the computer is connected to the computer network through the bridge.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 18, wherein: the computer retains information concerning the packets for optimizing the position of said variable latency threshold point.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: said variable latency threshold point is reset from time to time as demands of the computer network vary.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: said variable latency threshold point may be set according to a calculation of an acquisition time of an application.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: the variable latency threshold point may be set according to empirically determined data gathered during operation of the bridge.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said step of adjusting the variable latency threshold point may be performed dynamically.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-01-28	2000-07-29	2001-01-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-01-28	2004-07-29	2005-01-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-01-28	2008-07-29	2009-01-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Variable latency cut through bridge for forwarding packets in response to user's manual adjustment of variable latency threshold point while the bridge is operating

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