Method and apparatus for distributing data packets to multiple network addresses

Abstract

A network device for transferring a data packet from a source address to a destination address is provided. The network device includes a plurality of network addresses for indicating locations of a plurality of network processing units, and further including a data packet distributing unit for transferring a data packet to the network processing units in sequence by replacing a destination address of the data packet with the network addresses. The data packet distributing unit performs the actions of determining whether the data packet has been transferred to each of the network processing units, transferring the data packet to a network processing unit after replacing the destination address of the data packet with a corresponding network address if the data packet has not been transferred to the network processing unit, and outputting the data packet if the data packet has been transferred to each of the processing units.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A network device comprising:
 a plurality of network addresses for indicating locations of a plurality of network processing units; and   a data packet distributing unit for transferring a data packet to said network processing units in sequence by replacing a destination address of said data packet with said network addresses,   wherein said data packet distributing unit performs the following actions:
 determining whether said data packet has been transferred to each of said network processing units; 
 transferring said data packet to a network processing unit after replacing said destination address of said data packet with a corresponding network address if said data packet has not been transferred to said network processing unit; and 
 outputting said data packet if said data packet has been transferred to each of said processing units. 
   
   
   
       13 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein said data packet distributing unit further selects a set of network processing units from said network processing units after receiving said data packet and transfers said data packet to said set of network processing units in sequence by replacing said destination address of said data packet with a corresponding set of said network addresses. 
   
   
       14 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein said data packet distributing unit receives said data packet from a source address. 
   
   
       15 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein said data packet distributing unit further forwards said data packet to a predefined address after replacing said destination address of said data packet with said predefined address if said data packet has been transferred to each of said network processing units. 
   
   
       16 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein each network processing unit executes a predefined procedure on said data packet after receiving said data packet from said data packet distributing unit and sends said data packet back to said data packet distributing unit after completing said execution of said predefined procedure on said data packet. 
   
   
       17 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein, when said data packet distributing unit selectively transfers said data packet to a next network processing unit which said data packet has not been transferred to after receiving said data packet from a previous network processing unit. 
   
   
       18 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein, when a network processing unit detects that said data packet is unqualified, said network processing unit drops said data packet and said data packet distributing unit stops transferring said data packet to said network processing units. 
   
   
       19 . A network system, comprising:
 a plurality of network processing units for executing a plurality of predefined procedures on a data packet; and   a data packet distributor coupled to said network processing units for transferring said data packet to said network processing units in sequence by replacing an destination address of said data packet with a plurality of network addresses for indicating locations of said network processing units respectively,   wherein said data packet distributor performs the following actions:
 determining whether said data packet has been transferred to each of said network processing units; 
 transferring said data packet to a network processing unit after replacing said destination address of said data packet with a corresponding network address if said data packet has not been transferred to said processing unit; and 
 outputting said data packet if said data packet has been transferred to each of said processing units. 
   
   
   
       20 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein said data packet distributor further selects a set of network processing units from said network processing units after receiving said data packet and transfers said data packet to said set of network processing units in sequence by replacing said destination address of said data packet with a corresponding set of said network addresses. 
   
   
       21 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein said data packet distributor receives said data packet from a source address. 
   
   
       22 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein said data packet distributor further forwards said data packet to a predefined address after replacing said destination address of said data packet with said predefined address if said data packet has been transferred to each of said network processing units. 
   
   
       23 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein each of said network processing units processes said data packet after receiving said data packet from said data packet distributor and sends said data packet back to said data packet distributor after completing said process on said data packet. 
   
   
       24 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein said data packet distributor selectively transfers said data packet to a next network processing unit which said data packet has not been transferred to after receiving said data packet from a previous network processing unit. 
   
   
       25 . The network system of  claim 19 , wherein, when a network processing unit detects that said data packet is unqualified, said network processing unit drops said data packet and said data packet distributor stops transferring said data packet to said network processing units. 
   
   
       26 . A method for distributing a data packet to a plurality of network processing units in sequence for processing, comprising the steps of:
 determining at a data packet distributing unit whether said data packet has been transferred to each of said network processing units;   if said data packet has not been transferred to a network processing unit, said data packet distributing unit operates the steps of:
 replacing a destination address of said data packet with a network address indicating a location of said network processing unit at said data packet distributing unit; and 
 transferring said data packet from said data packet distributing unit to said network processing unit according to said destination address; and 
   if said data packet has been transferred to each of said processing units, outputting said data packet from said data packet distributing unit.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 selecting at said data packet distributing unit a set of network processing units from said network processing units after receiving said data packet; and   transferring said data packet from said data packet distributing unit to said set of network processing units in sequence by replacing said destination address of said data packet with a corresponding set of said network addresses.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of:
 receiving said data packet at said data packet distributing unit from a source address.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein, the step of outputting said data packet from said data packet distributing unit further comprises the steps of:
 replacing said destination address of said data packet with a predefined address at said data packet distributing unit; and   forwarding said data packet from said data packet distributing unit to said predefined address.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 processing said data packet at each of said network processing units after receiving said data packet from said data packet distributing unit; and   sending said data packet back to said data packet distributing unit after completing said process on said data packet.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of:
 selectively transferring said data packet from said data packet distributing unit to a next network processing unit which said data packet has not been transferred to after receiving said data packet at said data packet distributing unit from a previous network processing unit.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of:
 dropping said data packet and stopping transferring said data packet to said network processing units if a network processing unit detects said data packet is unqualified.