Link aggregation in ethernet frame switches

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Data packets containing source and destination addresses are received on one or more incoming ports for distribution on one or more outgoing ports. An address look-up table stores previously processed source and destination addresses together with source and destination contexts associated with the respective source and destination addresses. The contexts represent either a specific physical port or an aggregated grouping of ports. A distribution table stores for each aggregated grouping of outgoing ports a corresponding aggregated group of identifiers of specific outgoing ports. As each packet is received its source and destination addresses are extracted and the address look-up table is …