Fibre channel interface unit
First Claim
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1. A Fibre Channel interface unit for interfacing an output device with a plurality of nodes in a Fibre Channel network, the interface unit comprising:
- a plurality of input interfaces coupled to the nodes to passively listen for frames communicated between the nodes, the frames formatted in accordance with a Fibre Channel protocol, the input interfaces further configured to examine source and destination addresses of the frames in order to extract data wanted by the output device and eliminate data not wanted by the output device, each interface providing filtered data that is wanted by the output device; and
an output interface configured to format the filtered data from the input interfaces in accordance with a pulse code modulated (PCM) protocol and place the formatted data into at least one lower speed output stream;
wherein the output interface fills PCM frames with a fill word when a frame of data is not available from the input interface.
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Abstract
Fibre Channel interface apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is provided for interfacing with at least one node in a Fibre Channel network. The system includes at least one input interface that is couplable to receive a plurality of frames of data that are transmitted from or received at a node of the Fibre Channel network. An output telemetry interface is couplable to provide the received frames of data to a telemetry and/or recording device.
26 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A Fibre Channel interface unit for interfacing an output device with a plurality of nodes in a Fibre Channel network, the interface unit comprising:
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a plurality of input interfaces coupled to the nodes to passively listen for frames communicated between the nodes, the frames formatted in accordance with a Fibre Channel protocol, the input interfaces further configured to examine source and destination addresses of the frames in order to extract data wanted by the output device and eliminate data not wanted by the output device, each interface providing filtered data that is wanted by the output device; and an output interface configured to format the filtered data from the input interfaces in accordance with a pulse code modulated (PCM) protocol and place the formatted data into at least one lower speed output stream; wherein the output interface fills PCM frames with a fill word when a frame of data is not available from the input interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for collecting avionics data for an aircraft output device, the method comprising:
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passively listening for frames communicated between a plurality of nodes in a Fibre Channel local area network, the frames formatted in accordance with a Fibre Channel protocol; selecting avionics data wanted by the output device, including examining source and destination addresses of the frames in order to extract avionics data specific to the output device and eliminate data not wanted by the output device; placing the filtered data into at least one lower speed output stream that is formatted for the output device in accordance with a pulse code modulated (PCM) protocol; and filling PCM frames with a fill word when a frame of data is not available on the network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification