Cascade architecture and operation for packet-based communication systems
US7233601B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/44
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A connecting unit for use in a system comprising a ‘stack’ of network communication units having a cascade connection has three ports having lines for forwarding and receiving data packets and for forwarding and receiving control messages. The connecting unit increments a first signal value defining an identification number received by way of a control message at a first port, provides the received signal value by way of a control message to the third port and provides the incremented signal value by way of a control message to the second port. The connecting unit also receives a second signal value defining an active unit count by way of a control message at the first port and provides the second signal value, incremented or not in dependence on a control message received at the third port, in a control message at the second port. The first signal values (UnitIDs) are used to establish the numbering of the units in the stack and the second signal values are used to compute a count of the ‘active’ units in the stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.