Method and apparatus for switching signals of multiple different communication protocols
US6498792B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5672
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A telecommunications switching apparatus (10) includes optical paths (16-19) coupled to interface cards (26-29), which in turn are coupled to a switching circuit (41-42). The switching circuit is coupled to a plurality of universal connectors (71-74), each of which is coupled to an auxiliary connector (77-78). The universal connectors can each removably receive any one of several types of switching circuit cards (101-104), which each utilize a respective one of several different communication protocols. An auxiliary circuit card (107-108) may be provided in the associated auxiliary connector, in order to support switching circuit cards that use certain communication protocols. The optically transmitted information includes segments formatted according to respective communication protocols, and is converted from optical to electrical form by the interface cards. The switching circuit then routes each segment to a respective universal connector containing a switching circuit card that effects switching according to the communication protocol of that segment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.