Architecture for a hybrid STM/ATM add-drop multiplexer

• US 20060092829A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Demarco, Stephen J. Brolin
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Demarco, Stephen J. Brolin
• Inventors: Brolin, Stephen J., DeMarco, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0012 Switching modules and their interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0017 Parallel switch planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0021 Control mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0025 Peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/006 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0688 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0691 Synchronisation in a TDM node
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5627 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/1523 Parallel switch fabric planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/153 ATM switching fabrics having parallel switch planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/1553 Interconnection of ATM switching modules, e.g. ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/30 Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/40 Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/552 by ensuring the integrity of packets received through redundant connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/557 : Error correction, e.g. fault recovery or fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/606 : Hybrid ATM switches, e.g. ATM&STM, ATM&Frame Relay or ATM&IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 : Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

Architecture for a SONET network element. The architecture includes an interconnection system for a network element, including a line unit slot, a switch fabric slot, and service unit slots. The line unit slot is connected as a hub to the switch fabric slot and the service unit slots in a first star interconnection configuration. The switch fabric slot is connected as a hub to the line unit slot and the service unit slots in a second star interconnection configuration. The star interconnection configurations provide fault isolation between different units, and allow for replacement of failed units without interfering with the links of other units to the hub. A service unit is provided including a first backplane interface for connecting with an ATM star interconnect configuration within the network element, and a second backplane interface for connecting to an STM star interconnect configuration within the network element.

Claims

1. A network element, comprising:

an active/standby pair of line units, each line unit operable to provide service affecting functionality to support a first communications protocol;

an active/standby pair of switch fabric units, each switch fabric unit operable to provide service affecting functionality to support a second communications protocol; and

a management and control unit providing non-service affecting functionality for said device.

2. The network element of claim 1 wherein said first communications protocol is synchronous transfer mode (STM).

3. The network element of claim 2 wherein said service affecting functionality to support said first communications protocol comprises:

an optical interface to a synchronous transfer mode ring;

a synchronous transfer mode switch fabric; and

a timing circuit to provide a timing reference to at least one service unit coupled to the network element.

4. The network element of claim 1 wherein said second communications protocol is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

5. The network element of claim 4 wherein said service affecting functionality of said second communications protocol comprises an asynchronous transfer mode switch fabric.

6. The network element of claim 1 wherein said non-service affecting functionality comprises a software program to perform downloading of an executable software image from said management and control unit to a service unit installed in the network element.

7. The network element of claim 6 wherein said non-service affecting functionality comprises an overhead processor for processing overhead information received in accordance with said first communications protocol.

8. The network element of claim 1 wherein said first communication protocol is Ethernet.

9. The network element of claim 8 wherein said second communication protocol is synchronous transfer mode (STM).