Signal transfer device in a telecommunications network

• US 6,144,642 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimada, Naohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/910,747
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 370/242, 370/244, 370/247, 370/250, 370/251, 370/445, 370/248, 370/406, 370/224, 359/110, 359/124, 703/24, 379/10, 379/29, 706/52
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5627 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/103 using a shared central buffer; using a shared memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• 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 49/555 Error detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0407 using a stored programme control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

Disclosed is a transfer device within a telecommunications network capable of transferring control information at high speed without reducing main signal through-put and also capable of greatly reducing the processing burden on the control center while avoiding high physical cost and power consumption. Trouble and control information in a communication signal are detected at an incoming section, notification thereof is sent to an outgoing section and the relevant control information is inserted into the communication signal at the outgoing section. Furthermore, notification destinations of trouble and control information are stored based on the switching mode of the communication signal and notifications of trouble and control information are sent directly to the destined outgoing section without being switched. Moreover, signals are sent by multi-master mode or by Ethernet 10 Base-2.

Claims

1. A transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network comprising:

a plurality of incoming sections at which communication signals are received from preceding nodes;

a switching section for switching the received communication signals; and

a plurality of outgoing sections for transmitting a switched communication signal to succeeding nodes;

wherein each incoming section comprises;

direct transfer means for transferring notification data to notify a destined outgoing section directly without going through the switching section; and

each outgoing section comprises;

direct receiving means for receiving the notification data sent from the direct transfer means of each incoming section.

2. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 1, wherein each incoming section further comprises:

detection means for detecting a troubled situation of a communication path;

discrimination means for discriminating control information in an incoming communication signal;

notification means for notifying detected trouble information and discriminated control information to corresponding outgoing sections; and

a switching information memory provided at the notifying means for storing destinations to be notified of the trouble and other control information according to switching modes which are at least one of cross-connection, add-drop and non-symmetrical; and

each outgoing section further comprises;

discrimination means for discriminating trouble and other control information from the received data; and

insertion means for inserting the discriminated notified information to a corresponding main signal.

3. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 2 or 1, wherein said direct transferring and receiving means between each incoming section and each outgoing section is constructed with a multi-master mode.

4. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 2 or 1, wherein said direct transferring and receiving means between each incoming section and each outgoing section is constructed with an Ethernet 10 Base-2.

5. A transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network comprising:

a plurality of incoming sections at which communication signals are received from preceding nodes;

a switching section for switching the received communication signals; and

a plurality of outgoing sections for transmitting a switched communication signal to succeeding nodes;

wherein each incoming section comprises;

direct transfer path that transfers notification data to notify a destined outgoing section directly without going through the switching section; and

each outgoing section comprises;

direct receiving path that receives the notification data sent from the direct transfer path of each incoming section.

6. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 5, wherein each incoming section further comprises:

a detector that detects a troubled situation of a communication path;

a discriminator that discriminates control information in an incoming communication signal;

a notification element that provides detected trouble information and discriminated control information to corresponding outgoing sections;

a switching information memory provided at the notification element that stores destinations to be notified of the trouble and other control information according to switching modes which are at least one of cross-connection, add-drop and non-symmetrical; and

each outgoing section further comprises;

a discrimination element that discriminates trouble and other control information from the received data;

an insertion element that inserts the discriminated notified information to a corresponding main signal.

7. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said direct transferring and receiving paths between each incoming section and each outgoing section are constructed with a multi-master mode.

8. The transfer device in a transfer node within a telecommunication network according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said direct transferring and receiving paths between each incoming section and each outgoing section are constructed with an Ethernet 10 Base-2.