Reconfigurable interconnect/switch for selectably coupling network devices, media, and switch fabric
US7539184B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/08
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A reconfigurable interconnect/switch for selectably coupling network devices, media, and switch fabric. The reconfigurable interconnect/switch enables network devices, such as network processor units (NPUs) to selectively communicate with other NPUs, media (via a media interface), and switch fabric (via a switch fabric interface), thus providing flexibility in the use of network line cards and the like. Embodiments of the switching/routing scheme may be employed to support network devices having separate media and/or switch fabric interfaces, as well as network devices having selectable media switch fabric (MSF) interfaces that share signal lines.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.