Method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element
US7502373B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/552
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element is described. Network traffic is denominated in cells as it passes through the network element. Prior to the upgrade, an internal header is provided to direct the communication of a cell through the network element. The internal header has internal routing information to direct the routing of the cell through the switching fabric of the network element. Additional internal routing information compatible with upgraded components of a network element is added to the cells passing through the network element. The additional internal routing information is dependent on the internal routing information previously provided in the internal header, but differs from the internal routing information in that it supports the upgraded components of the network element. Thus, prior to the upgrading of a switching fabric in a network element, the internal routing information is used to route the cells through the non-upgraded network components, while, after the upgrading of the switching fabric, the additional internal routing information is used to route cells through the upgraded components o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.