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  Device for processing data packets without use of a microprocessor and a memoryUSPTO Application #: 20070223499Title: Device for processing data packets without use of a microprocessor and a memory Abstract: A method of processing data packets includes receiving a plurality of the data packets at a selected node. Pertinent information in the data packets is extracted. The pertinent information is pertinent to the selected node. A plurality of response data packets are generated based on the pertinent information. The extracting and generating steps are performed without use of a microprocessor. (end of abstract) Agent: Lexmark International, Inc. Intellectual Property Law Department - Lexington, KY, US Inventors: Michael Ray Timperman, Jason Eric Waldeck USPTO Applicaton #: 20070223499 - Class: 370400000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Multiplex Communications, Pathfinding Or Routing, Switching A Message Which Includes An Address Header, Having A Plurality Of Nodes Performing Distributed Switching The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070223499. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to network communication, and, more particularly, to a packet processing node for network communication. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In many communication systems, any transmission from one node is sent to a plurality of connected nodes. In such broadcast systems, the information may only be relevant to a single receiver, but all nodes must process the transmission to determine its intent. Data on such networks are usually broken into pieces known as packets. A packet is formed of consecutive bytes that may be marked by leading and/or trailing delimiters. Protocols by which nodes communicate usually divide a packet into the protocol-relevant information (the header) and the data relevant to the receiving node (payload). [0005] It is known for the protocols to be "layered" so that the payload area of a lower protocol contains a packet of the next higher layer protocol. Most communication environments require that addressing information be contained at fixed locations (in the first few bytes) of the lowest layer protocol header so that hardware can help discard unwanted packets by simple filtering. [0006] There are many examples of commercially available network devices that perform such filtering. Practically all Ethernet media access controllers (MAC's), for instance, provide for filtering based on an exact match of the first six bytes of a packet header to a programmed value (the network address). This greatly reduces the load of the general-purpose central processing unit (CPU). However, many network frames that are addressed to the node either distinctly or by a shared address are still not relevant to a particular node. The receiving equipment may be required to look at an entire packet to determine its relevance. Additional cost is inherent in networked systems because memory is required to store the entire packet while the processing elements perform the analysis. [0007] Most of the existing patents relating to packet filtering are a result of the very competitive commercial network switch and router market. Routers must sort received frames into subsets based on different byte fields within a packet. To achieve high throughput, specialized hardware can be used to perform this sorting. In all known cases, an assumption is made that a CPU is present and only assists the microprocessor in performing its task. A problem is that a microprocessor adds significant cost to the product. [0008] What is needed in the art is a device for network communication that does not require a microprocessor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides a device for network communication using specialized hardware that eliminates the need for a microprocessor in the system. The device processes information in a packetized communication system. The result is a minimal-cost packet-processing node. [0010] A hardware apparatus extracts only pertinent information from received packets and can generate response packets based on the same information. This processing is done in real time and without the use of an additional data processing system that might include a microprocessor or storage memory. [0011] The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method of processing data packets. A plurality of the data packets are received at a selected node. Pertinent information in the data packets is extracted. The pertinent information is pertinent to the selected node. A plurality of response data packets are generated based on the pertinent information. The extracting and generating steps are performed without use of a microprocessor. [0012] The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a data packet communication system including a peripheral device and a filter device connected to the peripheral device. The filter device receives a plurality of data packets and identifies pertinent information in the data packets. The pertinent information is pertinent to the peripheral device. [0013] An advantage of the present invention is that network packet processing is performed without the need for a microprocessor. [0014] Another advantage is that the packet filter hardware not only identifies packets relevant to the receiving node, but also extracts any pertinent information contained in the data stream. [0015] Yet another advantage is that signals are created by the filter hardware to indicate that a response packet should be generated using the extracted information. [0016] A further advantage is that the packet filter hardware can be replicated and used in parallel to provide different protocols within the same network node. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a packet communication device of the present invention connected to a peripheral device and a packetized data network; [0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a data packet processed by the packet communication device of FIG. 1; [0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the hardware filter of FIG. 1; [0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the signaling logic of FIG. 3; and Continue reading... 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