Granted Patent B2

US 8,565,095 · App. 11/315,512 · Granted Oct 22, 2013

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A method for context controlled data tapping utilizing parallel logic for integrated link monitoring, comprising:

receiving a signal unit from a host processor;

extracting a context-controlled signal unit from the host processor by a state system;

indexing to a state associated with a current channel to determine a current context in parallel to host processing;

assigning a bundle overhead associated with the signal unit, wherein the bundle overhead includes time stamp information for indicating a time offset representing a time difference between a globally distributed time and a local time when the signal unit is written to the bundle overhead of a packet bundle, the time stamp being written to the bundle overhead prior to transferring ownership of the packet bundle; and

storing via a protocol the bundle overhead associated with the signal unit in a host memory.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising bundling a data packet associated with the integrated link monitor with the signal unit information and the bundle overhead.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising storing the bundled integrated link monitor data packet in THE host memory.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising collecting the signal unit.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising aligning the signal unit based upon the state of the current context.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the aligned signal unit is copied to a direct memory access control function.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising extracting level 2 information from the signal unit.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising loading the context of the signal unit based upon the availability of a link input.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein link input includes requests from a controlling entity.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein link input includes requests to generate a transmit signal unit.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein link input includes requests to process a receive signal unit.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising producing a state machine output based upon the link input and the current context of the state signal.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bundle overhead includes decoding information.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bundle overhead includes information related to unbundling.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bundle overhead includes source of the signal unit.

16. A method for context controlled data tapping utilizing parallel logic for integrated link monitoring, comprising:

receiving a signal unit;

indexing to a state associated with a current channel to determine a current context in parallel to host processing from a host processor;

extracting level 2 data from the signal unit from the host processor by a state system;

aligning the signal unit based upon the state of the current context and the extracted level 2 data;

copying the aligned signal unit to a direct memory access control function of the state system;

collecting the signal unit;

assigning a bundle overhead associated with the signal unit, wherein the bundle overhead includes time stamp information for indicating a time offset representing a time difference between a globally distributed time and a local time when the signal unit is written to the bundle overhead of an integrated link monitor data packet bundle, the time stamp being written to the bundle overhead prior to transferring ownership of the integrated link monitor data packet bundle;

loading the context of the signal unit based upon the availability of a link input, wherein link inputs are comprised of requests from a controlling entity, wherein link inputs are comprised of requests to generate a transmit signal unit, wherein link inputs are comprised of requests to process a receive signal unit;

producing a state machine output based upon the link input and the current context of the state signals;

assembling the integrated link monitor data packet bundle; and

storing via a protocol the integrated link monitor data packet bundle in a host memory.

17. A system configured to provide context controlled data tap and parallel logic system for integrated link monitoring, comprising:

a tap receiving a signal unit;

a processor for:

assigning a bundle overhead associated with the signal unit, wherein the bundle overhead includes time stamp information for indicating a time offset representing a time difference between a globally distributed time and a local time when the signal unit is written to the bundle overhead of a packet bundle, the time stamp being written to the bundle overhead prior to transferring ownership of the packet bundle, and loading a context of the signal unit based upon the availability of a link input; and

a state machine coupled to the tap, the state machine configured to receive the signal unit and to determine a current context of the signal unit, the state machine producing a subsequent state based on the signal unit input, the link input, and current context of the signal unit.

18. A system configured to provide context controlled data tap and parallel logic system for integrated link monitoring of claim 17 comprising:

a link control coupled to the state machine for controlling input of the signal unit,

the link control including coupling to a controlling entity,

the link control adapted to receive requests to generate transmit integrated link monitor data packet bundles,

the link control adapted to receive requests to process receive integrated link monitor data packet bundles.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer, the instructions comprising:

indexing to a state associated with a current channel a signal unit to determine a current context state;

aligning the signal unit based upon the current context;

assigning a bundle overhead associated with the signal unit, wherein the bundle overhead includes time stamp information for indicating a time offset representing a time difference between a globally distributed time and a local time when the signal unit is written to the bundle overhead of a packet bundle, the time stamp being written to the bundle overhead prior to transferring ownership of the packet bundle;

copying the aligned signal unit to a direct memory access control function; and

bundling an integrated link monitor data packet in a host memory.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the bundle overhead associated with the signal unit includes decoding information, unbundling information, source of the data and time stamp information for correlation across multiple monitored entities.

Assignments (9)