Multi-service telecommunication switch

• US 20030081540A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: WaveSmith Networks, Inc. (Ciena Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, John Patrick, Parker, Ronald Mark, Duymazlar, Mehmet Hakan, Demilia, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,428,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13164 Traffic (registration, measurement,...)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13295 Wavelength multiplexing, WDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13395 Permanent channel, leased line

Abstract

Multi-service telecommunication switches which include enhanced component redundancy and which also allow multiple chassis connections to a switching fabric enhance the likelihood that packets transmitted to and from the switch will not be lost due do a particular component failure and also enable chassis stacking in a rack system. Such a multi-service telecommunication switch includes redundant physical layer adapter cards, redundant service cards, redundant timing modules, and redundant switching fabrics. Further, the multi-service telecommunication switch, includes an enhanced data flow distribution (load-balancing) architecture which enables multiple chassis connections to the switching fabrics.

Claims

1. A telecommunication switch, comprising:

a service card for processing a plurality of packets;

a first physical layer adapter card for transmitting and receiving the plurality of packets, the first physical layer adapter card being in communication with a network over a first link and the service card over a second link for transferring the plurality of packets between the first physical layer adapter card and the service card; and

a second physical layer adapter card for transmitting and receiving the plurality of packets, the second physical layer adapter card being in communication with the network over the first link and the service card over a third link for transferring the plurality of packets between the second physical layer adapter card and the service card thereby providing redundant functionality for the first physical layer adapter card.

2. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein the service card is a first service card and further comprising a second service card for processing the plurality of packets and being in communication with the first physical layer adapter card over a fourth link for transferring the plurality of packets between the second service card and the first physical layer adapter card;

the second service card also being in communication with the second physical layer adapter card over a fifth link for transferring the plurality of packets between the second service card and the second physical layer adapter card thereby providing redundant functionality for the first service card.

3. The telecommunication switch of claim 2 further comprising:

a first timing module for providing a plurality of timing signals, the first timing module being in communication with the first service card over a sixth link and being in communication with the second service card over a seventh link; and

a second timing module for providing the plurality of timing signals, the second timing module being in communication with the first service card over an eighth link and being in communication with the second service card over a ninth link thereby providing redundant timing functionality for the first timing module.

4. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise four port DS3 physical layer adapter cards.

5. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise four port OC3 physical layer adapter cards.

6. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise one port OC12 physical layer adapter cards.

7. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise one port OC48 physical layer adapter cards.

8. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise four port OC12 physical layer adapter cards.

9. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second physical layer adapter cards comprise twelve port DS3 physical layer adapter cards.

10. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein the service card comprises a packet forwarding module card.

11. The telecommunication switch of claim 1 wherein the service card comprises a high speed packet forwarding module card.

12. The telecommunication switch of claim 3 wherein the first and second timing modules comprise stack timing modules.

13. The telecommunication switch of claim 3 wherein the first and second timing modules comprise fabric timing modules.

14. A system for balancing data flow within a network switch, comprising:

a service card for processing a plurality of packets;

a first timing module comprising an input interface and an output interface, the input interface of the first timing module being in communication with the service card over a first plurality of links for transferring the packets between the service card and the first timing module;

a second timing module comprising an input interface and an output interface, the input interface of the second timing module being in communication with the service card over a second plurality of links for transferring the packets between the service card and the second timing module thereby providing a redundant functionality for the first timing module; and

a processor in communication with the first timing module and the second timing module, the processor controlling data flow between the first timing module input and output interfaces and between the second timing module input and output interfaces by balancing the transfer of the plurality of packets between the first plurality of links and the second plurality of links depending on the integrity of the first and second pluralities of links.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the service card is a first service card and further comprising a second service card for processing a plurality of packets, the second service card being in communication with the input interface of the first timing module over a third plurality of links for transferring the packets between the second service card and the first timing module, the second service card also being in communication with the input interface of the second timing module over a fourth plurality of links for transferring the packets between the second service card and the second timing module, the processor controlling data flow between the first timing module input and output interfaces and between the second timing module input and output interfaces by balancing the transfer of the plurality of packets between the third plurality of links and the fourth plurality of links.

16. A system for enabling chassis stacking in a rack system, comprising:

a fabric comprising;

a first plurality of bi-directional fabric interfaces for transmitting and receiving a plurality of packets; and

a second plurality of bi-directional fabric interfaces for transmitting and receiving the plurality of packets; and

a plurality of chassis, each of the plurality of chassis comprising;

a first stack timing module comprising a bi-directional data interface being in communication with one of the first plurality of fabric interfaces over a first plurality of links for transferring the plurality of packets between the first stack timing module and the fabric; and

a second stack timing module comprising a bi-directional data interface being in communication with one of the second plurality of fabric interfaces over a second plurality of links for transferring the plurality of packets between the second stack timing module and the fabric.