Apparatus and method for redundancy of processing modules interfaced to a switching core
US6894969B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5651
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a core interface mechanism that permits 1:N type port protection on the core side of the switch such that core bandwidth is not wasted by the direct connection of service cards to the switching core. In an exemplary embodiment, a core interface module supports up to two active service cards and one dedicated protection service card. To provide increased efficiency and lower cost the redundant service card does not strand user bandwidth in the switch core. In an exemplary embodiment, the core interface includes a plurality of core side input and output ports for coupling to the switching core and a plurality of card side input and output ports for coupling to the service cards. A data flow switch function couples between the core side ports and the card side ports. The data flow switch function operates to complete data flow paths between the core side ports and the card side ports. A link failure detector detects a communications failure on a communications link associated with one of the active service cards and alters the data flow switch function such that one or more of said data flow paths associated with one of the active service cards are switched to…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.