Network processor

Abstract

The disclosed network processor comprises: an ASIC module integrated one or more main transmission hardware pipeline for message, and a micro-engine module with one or more programmable micro-engines for software-assist transmission, yes to notify the micro-engine module for process, or else takes main transmission directly, wherein the ASIC module uses a decision part connected to the micro-engine module to decide whether need the latter for assist transmission. This invention has high flexibility and reliability.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the forwarding technology in the modern communication system, in particular to a network processor suitable for message forwarding in the IP network. Background technique [0002] In a modern communication system, when a source device sends information to a sink device, the information is usually forwarded by a forwarding device. So far, the development of forwarding technology has mainly gone through the following five stages. [0003] The first generation forwarding technology: mainly adopts software centralized forwarding and bus switching technology. figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first-generation forwarding device. see figure 1 , the interface card of the forwarding device is connected to the central processing unit (CPU) through an internal bus; the CPU is responsible for all transaction processing, including route collection, forwarding processing, device management, etc.; the interface on the in...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0022] 2. Instruction space problem

With the increase of business, since all business functions are implemented by software, the demand for instructions is huge, so the on-chip instruction space cannot meet the demand for these instructions.

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