Monitoring redundant control buses to provide a high availability local area network for a telecommunications device
First Claim
1. A telecommunications device, comprising:
- a local area network comprising redundant first and second control buses operable to communicate control data;
a plurality of cards coupled to the first and second control buses, the cards operable to communicate control data using the first control bus;
a data network operable to communicate non-control telecommunications data between the cards;
a first monitor coupled to the first and second control buses and to the data network, the first monitor operable to detect a failure of the first control bus and to communicate a message indicating the failure using the data network;
a second monitor coupled to the first and second control buses and to the data network, the second monitor operable to detect the failure of the first control bus and to communicate a message indicating the failure using the data network; and
the first monitor operable to receive the message from the second monitor and the second monitor operable to receive the message from the first monitor, the monitors operable to cause the cards to communicate control data using the second control bus in response to the messages.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telecommunications device includes a local area network with redundant first and second buses. Multiple cards coupled to the first and second buses communicate using the first bus. A first monitor coupled to the first and second buses detects a failure of the first bus and communicates a message indicating the failure using a data network. A second monitor also coupled to the first and second buses may detect the failure of the first bus and may also communicate a message indicating the failure using the data network. The first monitor and the second monitor may receive the messages from one another and cause the cards to communicate using the second bus. In a more particular embodiment, the second monitor transmits a test signal using the first bus in response to the message from the first monitor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A telecommunications device, comprising:
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a local area network comprising redundant first and second control buses operable to communicate control data;
a plurality of cards coupled to the first and second control buses, the cards operable to communicate control data using the first control bus;
a data network operable to communicate non-control telecommunications data between the cards;
a first monitor coupled to the first and second control buses and to the data network, the first monitor operable to detect a failure of the first control bus and to communicate a message indicating the failure using the data network;
a second monitor coupled to the first and second control buses and to the data network, the second monitor operable to detect the failure of the first control bus and to communicate a message indicating the failure using the data network; and
the first monitor operable to receive the message from the second monitor and the second monitor operable to receive the message from the first monitor, the monitors operable to cause the cards to communicate control data using the second control bus in response to the messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
the first monitor comprises first selection logic for the first control bus having a first value and second selection logic for the second control bus having a second value, the first and second values determining a selection state; and
each of the plurality of cards is operable to detect an invalid transition from the selection state.
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10. A monitor for monitoring a local area network in a telecommunications device comprising a plurality of cards coupled to one another using a data network operable to communicate non-control telecommunications data between the cards, the local area network comprising redundant first and second control buses coupling the cards, the cards operable to communicate using the first control bus, the monitor operable to:
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receive a message from a second monitor communicated using the data network and indicating a failure of the first control bus;
if the monitor has detected the failure, communicating a message to the second monitor using the data network to indicate the failure; and
if the monitor has not detected the failure, transmitting a test signal using the first control bus in response to the message from the second monitor, and detecting a test signal result. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of monitoring a local area network in a telecommunications device comprising a plurality of cards coupled to one another using a data network operable to communicate non-control telecommunications data between the cards, the local area network comprising redundant first and second control buses coupling the cards, the method comprising:
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communicating between cards using the first control bus;
detecting a failure of the first control bus using a first monitor;
communicating a first message from the first monitor to a second monitor using the data network to indicate the failure;
receiving the first message at the second monitor;
if the second monitor has detected the failure, communicating a second message from the second monitor to the first monitor using the data network to indicate the failure;
receiving the second message at the first monitor; and
causing the cards to communicate using the second control bus in response to the first and second messages. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
detecting an improper test signal result; and
communicating the second message from the second monitor to the first monitor to indicate the failure in response to the improper test signal result.
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18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
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detecting a proper test signal result; and
isolating the first monitor in response to the proper test signal result.
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19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
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driving first selection logic in the first monitor and corresponding to the first control bus from a first value to a second value in response to the second message; and
driving second selection logic in the first monitor and corresponding to the second control bus from the second value to the first value in response to the second message.
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20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, in response to the second value being driven to the first value and using a selection bus that is coupled to the cards, to the first selection logic, and to the second selection logic, indicating to the cards to communicate using the second control bus.
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21. The method of claim 19, further comprising isolating the first monitor in response to driving the second selection logic from the second value to the first value if second selection logic in the second monitor and corresponding to the second control bus is not also driven from the second value to the first value.
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22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
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determining a selection state at the first monitor, the selection state determined according to a first value that is associated with first selection logic for the first control bus and a second value that is associated with second selection logic for the second control bus;
transitioning from the selection state at the first monitor; and
detecting, at each of the plurality of cards, an invalid transition from the selection state.
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Specification