High Speed Switch With Data Converter Physical Ports
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a switch that includes;
a switch fabric;
control logic that controls the transmission of digital signals through the switch fabric;
a transceiver block comprising one or more transceivers, each transmitting digital signals between the control logic and a corresponding external device; and
a data converter physical interface comprising one or more data converters, each performing a conversion between analog and digital signals, wherein digital signals associated with the one or more data converters are routed through the switch fabric.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high-speed switch that includes a switch fabric, and both high-speed serial ports and data converter physical ports. A first set of data converter physical ports may perform analog-to-digital conversions, such that an external analog signal may be converted to a digital input signal on the switch. The converted digital input signal may then be routed through the switch fabric in accordance with a serial data protocol. A second set of data converter physical ports may perform digital-to-analog conversions, such that an internal digital signal received from the switch fabric may be converted to an analog output signal on the switch. The converted analog output signal may then be transmitted to an external destination in accordance with a serial data protocol.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
a switch that includes; a switch fabric; control logic that controls the transmission of digital signals through the switch fabric; a transceiver block comprising one or more transceivers, each transmitting digital signals between the control logic and a corresponding external device; and a data converter physical interface comprising one or more data converters, each performing a conversion between analog and digital signals, wherein digital signals associated with the one or more data converters are routed through the switch fabric. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a switch in a communication system comprising:
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routing digital signals between a plurality of physical ports of the switch through a switch fabric; providing a first set of digital signals to the switch fabric with a first set of the physical ports that include one or more transceivers that implement a serial data protocol; providing a second set of digital signals to the switch fabric with a second set of the physical ports that include one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and providing a third set of digital signals from the switch fabric to a third set of the physical ports that include one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
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20. A method of operating a switch in a communication system comprising:
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receiving an analog input signal on a first physical port of the switch; converting the analog input signal to a parallel digital input signal on the switch; and routing the parallel digital input signal through a switch fabric of the switch to a second physical port of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a switch in a communication system comprising:
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receiving a serial data input signal on a first physical port of the switch; converting the serial data input signal to a parallel digital input signal at the first physical port of the switch, wherein the first physical port implements a serial data protocol; routing the parallel digital input signal through a switch fabric of the switch to a second physical port of the switch; and converting the parallel digital input signal into an analog output signal at the second physical port of the switch.
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Specification