Duplication in asychronous transfer mode (ATM) network fabrics
US6091731A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/555
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Arrangements for controlling a data switching network fabric and for synchronizing duplicate modules of such a fabric. A control complex, for determining new virtual connections to be established, and for disconnecting existing virtual connections, is connected through data links to the network fabric of a data switch. The network fabric has internal control processors. The control complex communicates with these processors by sending control packets over a dedicated internal ATM link and virtual connections to these internal processors to control their establishment and disconnection of user virtual connections. Duplicate modules of the data switching fabric receive identical packets and, when synchronized, transmit identical packets at the same time. The synchronization process is implemented by data links between the control processors of the duplicate fabrics to report progress on the step by step synchronization of internal queues. The algorithms for routing cells are identical in the two modules so that once the modules are synchronized, they remain in synchronism because they use identical paths. Advantageously, a switch to a standby module can be made without losing any cel…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.