Complexity reduction system and method for integrated redundancy switchover systems

• US 6,308,286 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1996
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richmond, Robert L., Wyar, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US08/609,958
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 371/7, 371/8.1, 395/180, 395/181, 395/182.08, 395/182.09, 395/182.11, 364/229.4, 364/268, 364/268.3, 364/268.9, 714/13, 714/10, 714/11, 714/12, 714/47
• US Class Current: 714/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems

Abstract

A redundant system, such as a redundant-modem system, having a plurality of similar components capable of operating independently of each other. At least one of the components serves as a spare component. The system further includes a plurality of switches connected to the inputs and outputs of the components such that the inputs and outputs of each of the components may be rerouted through the component operating as the spare. When operating as a spare, a component monitors status information received from the other components and detects when one of the other components has failed. When one of the components has failed, the component acting as a spare controls the switches such that the spare component (20b) replaces the failed component.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of components, at least one of the plurality of components serving as a spare component;

a plurality of switches connected to the components wherein each of the plurality of switches switches between a first state and a second state in response to a control signal;

in the first state connecting a corresponding input or an output to one of the plurality of components and disconnecting the spare component from the corresponding input or output; and

in the second state disconnecting the corresponding input or output from the one of the plurality of components and connecting the spare component to the corresponding input or output;

and wherein the plurality of components comprises a controller connected to the plurality of switches for monitoring status information received from the plurality of components, for detecting when one of the plurality of components has failed, and for generating the control signal to replace the one of the plurality of components that has failed with the spare component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said components are signal processors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said components are modems.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said components are stand-alone satellite modems.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said spare component further comprises:

a memory for storing current operating configurations of each of the other components, which are provided in status information transmitted to said spare component from the other components,

wherein said controller reads the current operating configuration for a failed one of the other components from said memory and implements the operating configuration in said spare component.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller generates and transmits a polling signal to the other components to request updates of current operating configurations.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components include two spare components, such that each spare component serves as a spare for a separate group of the other components.

8. A redundant-modem system comprising:

a plurality of modems, at least one of said modems serving as a spare modem; and

a plurality of switches connected to the inputs and outputs of said modems such that the input and output signals of each of said modems may be rerouted through said spare modem,

wherein each of said plurality of modems comprises a single controller for (i) monitoring status information received from the other modems, (ii) detecting when one of the other modems has failed, and (iii) controlling said switches such that said spare modem replaces a failed one of the other modems.

9. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein said modems are stand-alone satellite modems.

10. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein said spare modem further comprises:

a memory for storing current operating configurations of each of the other modems, which are provided in the status information transmitted to said spare modem from the other modems,

wherein said controller reads the current operating configuration for a failed one of the other modems from said memory and implements the operating configuration in said spare modem.

11. The redundant-modem system of claim 10, wherein said controller generates and transmits a polling signal to the other modems to request current operating configurations of each of the other modems.

12. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of modems include two spare modems, which serve as spares for two mutually exclusive groups of the other modems.

13. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of switches include a plurality of baseband switches and a plurality of IF switches.

14. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of switches include a plurality of baseband switches and a plurality of RF switches.

15. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, further comprising a chassis for housing said modems.

16. The redundant-modem system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of modems including said at least one spare modem are identical in physical structure, said chassis includes a plurality of slots for supporting said modems, and wherein said plurality of slots include at least one slot that designates the modem supported therein as a spare modem.

17. The redundant-modem system of claim 16, wherein said chassis includes at least ten slots for supporting said modems, at least two of said slots designate the modem supported therein as a spare modem, and said redundant-modem system operates in a dual 1:

4 redundant configuration when modems are placed in the two slots for supporting spare modems, and operates in a 1;

8 redundant configuration when only one modem is placed in one of the two slots for supporting spare modems.

18. The redundant-modem system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of modems including said at least one spare modem are identical in physical structure.

19. A system comprising:

a plurality of components, at least one of said components serving as a spare component; and

a plurality of switches connected to the inputs and outputs of said components such that the inputs and outputs of each of said components may be rerouted through the component serving as a spare,

wherein each of said plurality of components comprises a single controller for (i) determining when the component is to serve as a spare component, (ii) monitoring status information received from the other components when the component is to serve as a spare, (iii) detecting when one of the other components has failed, and (iv) controlling said switches when the component is to serve as a spare such that the component replaces a failed one of the other components.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a chassis for housing said components, said chassis including a plurality of slots for supporting said components, wherein said plurality of slots include at least one slot that designates the component supported therein as a spare component, and wherein said controller determines that the component is to serve as a spare when the component is placed in a slot designated for a spare.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said components are modems.

22. A system comprising:

a plurality of components, wherein each component comprises different parameters and at least one of said components serves as a spare component; and

a plurality of switches connected to the inputs and outputs of said components such that the inputs and outputs of each of said components may be rerouted through said spare component,

wherein each of said plurality of components comprises a single processor for (i) monitoring status information received from the other components, (ii) detecting when one of the other components has failed, (iii) controlling said switches such that said spare component replaces a failed one of the other components, and (iv) configuring all parameters of the spare component to be identical to all parameters of the replaced failed component.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said components are signal processors.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said components are modems.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said components are stand-alone satellite modems.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said spare component further comprises:

a memory for storing current operating configurations of each of the other components, which are provided in status information transmitted to said spare component from the other components,

wherein said processor reads the current operating configuration for a failed one of the other components from said memory and implements the operating configuration in said spare component.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor generates and transmits a polling signal to the other components to request updates of current operating configurations.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of components include two spare components, such that each spare component serves as a spare for a separate group of the other components.