Protection switching of interface cards in communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system comprising:
- a switch circuit;
a primary interface card couplable to a communication medium connection via the switch circuit; and
a secondary interface card coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the secondary interface card controls the switch circuit to decouple the primary interface card from the communication medium connection and couple the secondary interface card to the communication medium connection via the switch circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes primary and secondary interface cards. A switching circuit allows both of the interface cards to selectively communicate over a medium without inducing reflection. Further, an automatic detection system is provided to allow a management circuit to identify which interface card is coupled as the primary or secondary card.
29 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a switch circuit;
a primary interface card couplable to a communication medium connection via the switch circuit; and
a secondary interface card coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the secondary interface card controls the switch circuit to decouple the primary interface card from the communication medium connection and couple the secondary interface card to the communication medium connection via the switch circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A communication system comprising:
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a communication medium;
a switch circuit including a relay;
a first interface card coupled to the communication medium via the switch circuit;
a second interface card coupled to the relay and switch circuit, wherein the second interface card controls the relay to decouple the first interface card from the communication medium and couple the second interface card to the communication medium via the switch circuit;
a management circuit coupled to the first and second interface cards, wherein the management circuit selectively activates either the first or second interface card and determines if the first or second interface card is coupled to the relay. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A communication system comprising:
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a switch circuit including a light emitting diode (LED) and a relay;
an interface card coupled to the switch circuit, the interface card comprising, a relay control circuit coupled to selectively activate the relay, the relay control circuit is further coupled to illuminate the LED, and a feedback circuit to monitor a current load of the relay control circuit and provide output signals; and
a management circuit coupled to the interface card, wherein the management circuit selectively activates the relay control circuit and monitors the output signal of the feedback circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a communication system comprising:
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installing a primary interface card;
installing a secondary interface card;
selectively activating the primary interface card using a management card;
monitoring a current load of the activated primary interface card;
identifying the activated primary interface card based upon the monitored current load; and
storing the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of identifying an interface card comprising:
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activating the interface card;
comparing a current load of the interface card to first and second references;
identifying the interface card as either a primary card or a secondary card based upon the comparison; and
storing data indicating the result of the identification. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of operating a communication system comprising:
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coupling a primary interface card to a communication medium via a switch;
detecting an operational error of the primary card;
decoupling the primary interface card from the communication medium; and
coupling a secondary interface card to the communication medium via the switch. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A communication switch circuit comprising:
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a primary card indicator to provide a visual indication when a primary interface card is operably coupled to the communication switch circuit;
a secondary card indicator to provide a visual indication when a secondary interface card is operably coupled to the communication switch circuit; and
a switch circuit relay coupled to the secondary interface card, such that the switch circuit relay selectively couples either the primary or secondary interface card to a communication medium connection in response to a signal from the secondary interface card. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A communication interface card comprising:
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a relay control circuitry to provide an output signal to a communication switch circuit; and
a feedback circuit coupled to the communication switch circuit to monitor a load current of the communication interface card through the communication switch circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification