Method and apparatus for providing a common support services infrastructure for a network element
US7619886B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K7/1459
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing a common support services infrastructure that allows a network element shelf to be used with circuit card configurations that provide enhanced and/or new data path functionality without requiring the expensive and time consuming redesign of the entire shelf unit. In one embodiment, the invention provides support services including common control and housekeeping services to a subshelf bay into which one or more subshelves may be installed. In one embodiment, the common support services that are provided include power supply services, environmental control services, information display services, and operational control and management services. In one embodiment, the subshelf bay is provided with standardized means used to supply the common support services to the subshelves. In one embodiment, each sub-shelf contains its own midplane and is operationally independent from other subshelves. The use of subshelves and the separation of providing support services (provided by the infrastructure) from providing data path functionality (provided by the subshelves) allows data path functionality to be enhanced by replaceme…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.