Architecture for a hybrid STM/ATM add-drop multiplexer

• US 7,428,236 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Brolin, Stephen J., DeMarco, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Jay P
• Application Number:
  US11/302,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.1, 370/407, 370/425
• US Class Current: 370/395.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0012 Switching modules and their interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0017 Parallel switch planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0021 Control mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0025 Peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/006 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0688 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0691 Synchronisation in a TDM node
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5605 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5627 Fault tolerance and recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/1523 Parallel switch fabric planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/153 ATM switching fabrics having parallel switch planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/1553 Interconnection of ATM switching modules, e.g. ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• 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 49/40 Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/552 by ensuring the integrity of packets received through redundant connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/557 : Error correction, e.g. fault recovery or fault tolerance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/606 : Hybrid ATM switches, e.g. ATM&STM, ATM&Frame Relay or ATM&IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 : Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

Architecture for a SONET network element. The architecture includes an interconnection system for a network element, including a line unit slot, a switch fabric slot, and service unit slots. The line unit slot is connected as a hub to the switch fabric slot and the service unit slots in a first star interconnection configuration. The switch fabric slot is connected as a hub to the line unit slot and the service unit slots in a second star interconnection configuration. The star interconnection configurations provide fault isolation between different units, and allow for replacement of failed units without interfering with the links of other units to the hub. A service unit is provided including a first backplane interface for connecting with an ATM star interconnect configuration within the network element, and a second backplane interface for connecting to an STM star interconnect configuration within the network element.

Claims

1. A service unit for a network element, comprising:

a first backplane interface to said network element, said first backplane interface conveying payload data using a first communication protocol,

wherein said first backplane interface is communicably coupled to a first star interconnect configuration within said network element, said first star interconnect configuration including a line unit slot; and

a second backplane interface to said network element, said second backplane interface conveying payload data using a second communication protocol,

wherein said second backplane interface is communicably coupled to a second star interconnect configuration within said network element, said second star interconnect configuration including a switch fabric slot,

wherein said line unit slot is communicably coupled as a first hub to said switch fabric slot and said first backplane interface to form the first star interconnection configuration, and

wherein said switch fabric slot is communicably coupled as a second hub to said line unit slot and said second backplane interface to form the second star interconnection configuration.

2. The service unit of claim 1 wherein said first communication protocol is Ethernet.

3. The service unit of claim 2 wherein said second communication protocol is synchronous transfer mode (STM).

4. A service unit for a network element, comprising:

a first backplane interface to said network element, said first backplane interface conveying payload data using a first communication protocol,

wherein said first backplane interface is communicably coupled to at least one service unit slot;

a second backplane interface to said network element, said second backplane interface conveying payload data using a second communication protocol,

wherein said second backplane interface is communicably coupled to a first star interconnect configuration within said network element, said first star interconnect configuration including a switch fabric slot; and

a third backplane interface, said third backplane interface being communicably coupled to a control star interconnect configuration within said network element, said control star interconnect configuration including a control unit slot,

wherein said switch fabric slot is communicably coupled as a first hub to said at least one service unit slot and said second backplane interface to form the first star interconnection configuration, and

wherein said control unit slot is communicably coupled as a second hub to said at least one service unit slot, said switch fabric slot, and said third backplane interface to form the control star interconnect configuration.

5. The service unit of claim 4 wherein said first communication protocol is Ethernet.

6. The service unit of claim 5 wherein said second communication protocol is synchronous transfer mode (STM).