Route on failure method and apparatus for automatic rerouting network traffic through a reconfigurable, intelligent signal multiplexer upon failures of multiplexer components or of network spans

• US 20030198180A1
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CoastCom, Inc. (Astound Broadband LLC)
• Original Assignee: CoastCom, Inc. (Astound Broadband LLC)
• Inventors: Cambron, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/14 Monitoring arrangements for SDH/SONET rings H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks

Abstract

A modular, reconfigurable, intelligent signal multiplexer for telecommunications purposes includes multiple feature cards. Each feature card contains an embedded microprocessor with associated RAM memory and flash ROM. The signal multiplexer processes digital inputs from a wide range of user equipment for transmission over digital facilities, including T1 and T3 lines. The system employs an Advanced Intelligent Multiplexer Network software package to perform network configuration and the establishment of maps. The maps including alternate maps, which in an embodiment include time-of-day-specific alternate routes. The functions of the signal multiplexers of a network are controlled by a mapping scheme. A map change alters the circuit-to-time slot assignments.

Claims