Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a flexible cross-connect system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring by an active control unit and a redundant control unit the operational status for each one of a plurality of elements and each one of a plurality of communications links within a flexible cross-connect system, the plurality of elements including;
the active control unit, the redundant control unit, a plurality of interface cards, an active cross-connect unit, a redundant cross-connect unit, and a plurality of point to point connections acting as the communications links between the plurality of elements;
determining when the operational status of any of the plurality of elements or the communications links between the plurality of elements indicates that the element or the communications link is non-operational;
autonomously switching from one active element to an associated redundant element in response to determining that the one active element is non-operational or from one active communications link between the plurality of elements to an associated redundant communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the one active communications link is non-operational;
determining when the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance;
reporting that maintenance is required for the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; and
blocking communications from being sent to the non-operational active element or over the non-operational active communications link.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for cross-connecting high-speed telecommunications signals at a flexible cross-connect system. A method and apparatus for controlling communications between each of the cards located within the flexible cross-connect system is also disclosed. The method and apparatus also detect and report failures within the system, receive and validate software upgrades from external sources, maintain synchronization within the system, and monitor communication maps for the system.
44 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring by an active control unit and a redundant control unit the operational status for each one of a plurality of elements and each one of a plurality of communications links within a flexible cross-connect system, the plurality of elements including;
the active control unit, the redundant control unit, a plurality of interface cards, an active cross-connect unit, a redundant cross-connect unit, and a plurality of point to point connections acting as the communications links between the plurality of elements;determining when the operational status of any of the plurality of elements or the communications links between the plurality of elements indicates that the element or the communications link is non-operational; autonomously switching from one active element to an associated redundant element in response to determining that the one active element is non-operational or from one active communications link between the plurality of elements to an associated redundant communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the one active communications link is non-operational; determining when the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; reporting that maintenance is required for the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; and blocking communications from being sent to the non-operational active element or over the non-operational active communications link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable non-transitory medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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monitor the operational status for each one of a plurality of elements and each one of a plurality of communications links within a flexible cross-connect system, the plurality of elements including;
an active control unit, a redundant control unit, a plurality of interface cards, an active cross-connect unit, a redundant cross-connect unit, and a plurality of point to point connections acting as the communications links between the plurality of elements;determine when the operational status of any of the plurality of elements or the communications links between the plurality of elements indicates that the element or the communications link is non-operational; autonomously switch from one active element to an associated redundant element in response to determining that the one active element is non-operational or from one active communications link between the plurality of elements to an associated redundant communications link in response to determining that the one active communications link is non-operational; determine when the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; report that maintenance is required for the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; and block communications from being sent to the non-operational active element or over the non-operational active communications link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of cross-connect units comprising at least an active cross-connect unit and a redundant cross-connect unit; a control unit configured to; monitor the operational status for each one of the plurality of cross-connect units and a plurality of point to point connections acting as communications links between a plurality of elements within a flexible cross-connect system, the plurality of elements including;
the control unit, a redundant control unit, a plurality of interface cards, the active cross-connect unit, the redundant cross-connect unit, and the plurality of point to point connections acting as the communications links between the plurality of elements;determine when the operational status of any of the plurality of elements or the communications links between the plurality of elements indicates that the element or the communications link between the plurality of elements is non-operational; switch from one active element to an associated redundant element in response to determining that the one active element is non-operational or from one active communications link between the plurality of elements to an associated redundant communications link between the plurality of elements in response to determining that the one active communications link is non-operational; and determine when the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link between the plurality of elements requires maintenance; report that maintenance is required for the non-operational active element or the non-operational active communications link; block communications from being sent to the non-operational active element or over the non-operational active communications link.
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Specification