Protection of devices in a redundant configuration

• US 7,436,291 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Horwood, Mark, Aiken, Dale, Sellars, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/324,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/506, 340/3.43, 340/3.44
• US Class Current: 340/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers

Abstract

A network communication device is provided, comprising a control processor for controlling operation of the device, a reset module which is controllable independently of the control processor for performing a reset operation of the device, and a reset control interface for receiving a reset signal, the reset module being responsive to the reset signal for performing the reset operation. A monitor is provided for monitoring the status of the control processor and an interface is adapted to transmit information relating to the monitored status from the device. A second, inactive device is provided to protect the communication device in the event of a control fault which renders the communication device unreachable. The protection device includes a reset interface for transmitting a reset signal to the reset module to enable the communication device to release activity.

Claims

1. A device comprising a control processor for controlling operation of said device,

a reset module adapted to be controlled independently of said control processor for performing a reset operation of said device, and

a monitor for monitoring the control status associated with control of the device by the control processor.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

(1) a reset control interface for receiving a reset signal, said reset module being responsive to said reset signal to perform said reset operation, and (2) a monitor interface adapted to transmit information indicative of the monitored control status from the device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said device comprises a device status indicator for indicating whether or not the device is in an active state, and said reset module is responsive to said reset signal to control said status indicator.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monitor is adapted to monitor status of at least one of said control processor, a control function of said device, a device status indicator, and means enabling control communications.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a further interface for transmitting said information indicative of the monitored control status.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second monitor for monitoring the status of said monitor and/or said monitor interface, and wherein said further interface is responsive to said second monitor for transmitting said information indicative of the monitored status.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a status monitor for monitoring the status of another device.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a reset interface responsive to said status monitor for transmitting a reset signal for resetting said other device.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, connected to a management interface, the management interface having a monitor for monitoring a condition of said device, and a notification interface operatively coupled to the monitor for sending a notification to another device based on said monitored condition.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said condition is at least one of (1) a condition that relates to the control status of the device, and (2) whether or not said device responds in a predetermined manner to an external communication.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9, connected to another device, said other device having a control processor for controlling functions of said other device, said other device being responsive to said monitored condition to perform predetermined functions of said first device.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, connected to a second device configurable to perform some predetermined functions of said first device, said second device comprising a monitor for monitoring control status of said first device, and a reset interface responsive to said monitored status for sending a reset signal to said reset module.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second device further comprises a first interface for receiving signals indicative of the monitored control status of said first device and a second interface for receiving signals indicative of said monitored status.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for receiving data, determining from the data, data intended for said control processor, and for passing data intended for said control processor thereto.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a network interface for connecting said device to a data communication network.

16. A device comprising

a monitor for monitoring control status of another device, and

an interface adapted to transmit a signal for resetting said other device in response to said monitor detecting a predetermined control status of said other device.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said device comprises a control processor adapted to perform operations of said other device in response to resetting of said other device.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said predetermined status is that said other device is not capable of responding in a predetermined manner to an external signal.

19. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said device comprises a communication device having a network interface for connection to a communication network.

20. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said device comprises a management interface for managing operations of said other device, and wherein said interface is adapted to transmit said signal to at least one of said other device, and a device capable of performing functions of said other device and which includes an interface for transmitting a reset signal to said other device.

21. An apparatus comprising

a monitor for monitoring a condition of first and second devices, the first and second devices being capable of performing functions of each other, and

an interface for transmitting a predetermined signal to at least one of said first and second devices in response to said monitor detecting a predetermined condition.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said monitor is adapted for determining from which of said first and second devices said predetermined condition originated, and a selector for selecting which of said first and second devices to send said signal based on said determination.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said condition is whether one of said first and second devices is capable of performing predetermined communication, and said signal is indicative of whether a device is capable of performing said predetermined communication.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising alarm generating means to generate an alarm in response to said monitor detecting said predetermined condition, wherein said alarm indicates the device from which the predetermined condition originates.