Programmable interconnect system for scalable router
First Claim
1. A router, comprising:
- a plurality of chassis, each chassis comprising a plurality of processing modules and a programmable interconnection module;
a data connection between each processing module on each chassis and the interconnection module on the same chassis; and
a data connection between the interconnection module on each chassis and at least one interconnection module on respective other chassis;
at least one programmable interconnection module being operative for;
1) establishing switchable connections between individual processing modules on its chassis and between at least one processing module on its chassis and at least one interconnection module on another chassis;
2) upon addition of an additional chassis to said router, changing said switchable connections such that at least one of said processing modules on its chassis is connected to an interconnection module on said additional chassis.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a chassis, a scalable router that includes a plurality of chassis and a method of upgrading a router. Each chassis includes a plurality of processing modules and a programmable interconnection module. Data connections are provided between each processing module on each chassis and the interconnection module on that chassis, and a data connection is provided between the interconnection module on each chassis and the interconnection module on at least one other chassis. In this way, the inter-chassis and intra-chassis connections pass through the programmable interconnection module, which may be used for concentrating the location of resources, such as opto-electronic and electro-optical converters, in a single card or unit. Moreover, the programmable nature of the switch fabric in each interconnection module is amenable to reconfiguration so as to support a change in that chassis'"'"' interconnection pattern that may be required for expanding the router'"'"'s capacity.
71 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A router, comprising:
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a plurality of chassis, each chassis comprising a plurality of processing modules and a programmable interconnection module; a data connection between each processing module on each chassis and the interconnection module on the same chassis; and a data connection between the interconnection module on each chassis and at least one interconnection module on respective other chassis; at least one programmable interconnection module being operative for; 1) establishing switchable connections between individual processing modules on its chassis and between at least one processing module on its chassis and at least one interconnection module on another chassis; 2) upon addition of an additional chassis to said router, changing said switchable connections such that at least one of said processing modules on its chassis is connected to an interconnection module on said additional chassis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A chassis for use in building a scalable router, comprising:
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a plurality of processing modules, each processing module including a plurality of electrical input ports, a plurality of electrical output ports and a processing fabric disposed therebetween; a programmable interconnection module, including a plurality of electrical input ports, a plurality of electrical output ports and a programmable switch fabric disposed therebetween, for creating selectively established switchable connections between individual ones of the electrical input ports and corresponding ones of the electrical output ports in accordance with a connection map, said interconnection module being operative for changing said selectively established switchable connections upon addition of an additional chassis to the scalable router; a data connection between each processing module and the interconnection module, whereby a subset of the plurality of electrical input ports of each processing module on each chassis is connected to a respective subset of the electrical output ports of the interconnection module on that chassis and whereby a subset of the plurality of electrical output ports of each processing module on each chassis is connected to a respective subset of the electrical input ports of the interconnection module on that chassis a plurality of optical input ports and a plurality of optical output ports, for external connection to one or more other chassis of the router; a plurality of optical-to-electrical conversion units, each optical-to-electrical conversion unit being connected between a respective one of the optical input ports and a respective subset of the electrical input ports of the interconnection module; and a plurality of electrical-to-optical conversion units, each electrical-to-optical conversion unit being connected between a respective subset of the electrical output ports of the interconnection module and a respective one of the optical output ports. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of upgrading a router including a plurality of original chassis, each original chassis comprising a plurality of processing modules and a programmable interconnection module, wherein a data connection exists between each processing module on each original chassis and the interconnection module on the same original chassis and wherein a data connection exists between the interconnection module on each original chassis and at least one interconnection module on respective other original chassis, wherein at least one interconnection module on an original chassis establishes switchable connections between the individual processing modules on its chassis and between at least one processing module on its chassis and at least one interconnection module on another original chassis, the method comprising:
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providing at least one additional chassis, each additional chassis comprising a plurality of processing modules and a programmable interconnection module, wherein a data connection exists between each processing module on each additional chassis and the interconnection module on the same additional chassis; establishing a data connection between an interconnection module on at least one additional chassis and the at least one interconnection module on one of the at least one original chassis; re-programming the at least one interconnection module on the at least one original chassis that has the switchable connections, such that at least one processing module on its original chassis is connected to the interconnection module on said at least one additional chassis. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification