Virtual channel remapping

Abstract

Virtual channel enabled networking devices may map frames to specific virtual channels based upon frame characteristics (e.g. destination address, class of service). Devices and methods that provide a remapping of virtual channels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network having virtual channel remapping may include: a first set of one or more switches that each support a first number of virtual channels, and a second set of one or more switches that each support a second number of virtual channels different from the first number of virtual channels. At least one switch from the second set is coupled to at least one switch from the first set and is configured to establish a correspondence (“map”) between the virtual channels supported by the first set and the virtual channels supported by the second set.

1 .- 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A device that comprises:
 a port that receives data on a first number of virtual channels and sends the data on a second number of virtual channels;   wherein the first number is not equal to the second number.   
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 55 , further comprising a second port that receives the data on the second number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 55 , further comprising a second port that sends the data on a third number of virtual channels, wherein the third number is not equal to the second number. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein acknowledgement data and credit transaction data are returned on the first number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein the second number of virtual channels comprises a different number of virtual channels dedicated to a class than the first number of virtual channels dedicates to the class. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein the port determines the first number of virtual channels during initialization. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein, if an initialization attempt fails because the port represents that the port supports a fourth number of virtual channels, the port represents that it supports the first number of virtual channels during another initialization attempt, the first number not equal to the fourth number. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein the second number is the maximum number of virtual channels supported by the device. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 55 , further comprising routing logic that internally routs the data on the second number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 55 , further comprising a second port that receives the data on the second number of virtual channels and sends the data on a third number of virtual channels, wherein the third number is not equal to the second number. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 55 , further comprising remapping logic that determines the virtual channel protocol of the first number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         66 . A method comprising:
 receiving data on a first number of virtual channels;   sending the data on a second number of virtual channels, the first number not equal to the second number.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising remapping the first number of virtual channels into a third number of virtual channels, and remapping the third number of virtual channels into the second number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising internally routing the data on a third number of virtual channels, the third number not equal to the first number. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising returning acknowledgement data and credit transaction data on the first number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising dedicating to a class a different number of virtual channels out of the second number of virtual channels than dedicated to the class out of the first number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising determining the first number of virtual channels during initialization. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising reattempting initialization representing support of the first number of virtual channels if a prior initialization attempt failed while representing support of a fourth number of virtual channels, the first number not equal to the fourth number. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising remapping the first number of virtual channels into the second number of virtual channels; and remapping the second number of virtual channels into the first number of virtual channels. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising determining the virtual channel protocol of the first number of virtual channels.