Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Through a circuit switch
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-28
2001-02-20
Pham, Chi H. (Department: 2731)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Through a circuit switch
C370S423000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192046
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to network switches and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells across a backplane in a network switch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Network switches provide signal connections between a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports. Each network switch typically comprises at least one switch fabric for facilitating these signal connections. The signal connections are made between the switch fabric and the input ports and the output ports.
Each switch fabric is typically located on its own printed circuit board within the network switch. Likewise, any circuitry that is associated with the input ports and the output ports is typically located on separate printed circuit boards within the network switch. A motherboard or backplane is provided in order for the signal connections to be made between the switch fabric and the input ports and the output ports. That is, the backplane provides physical connections between the switch fabric and the input ports and the output ports. It is over these physical connections that the signal connections are made.
Depending on the size of the network switch, it may be required that a large number of signal connections must be made between the switch fabric and the input ports and the output ports, and, correspondingly, a large number of physical connections must be made across the backplane between the switch fabric printed circuit board and the printed circuit board(s) associated with the input ports and the output ports. There are problems associated with such a large number of physical connections being made across a backplane, including printed circuit board area limitations and signal noise interference. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to reduce the number of physical connections that must be made across the backplane between the switch fabric printed circuit board and the printed circuit board(s) associated with the input ports and the output ports, while not reducing the data rate associated with the signal connections.
In addition to the benefit of reducing the number of physical connections between the switch fabric printed circuit board and the printed circuit board(s) associated with the input ports and the output ports, it would also be beneficial to utilize the reduced number of physical connections in a most efficient manner. That is, it would be beneficial to utilize the reduced number of physical connections between the switch fabric printed circuit board and the printed circuit board(s) associated with the input ports and the output ports in an efficient manner so that signal connections may be made to provide for signal redundancy and to compensate for hardware failures. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for efficiently transferring data across a backplane in a network switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for efficiently transferring asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells across a backplane in a network switch. The present invention is realized through an electrical apparatus that converts parallel data that is received on parallel data input ports to serial data that is transmitted on serial data output ports. The parallel data that is received on each parallel data input port is divided and transmitted from a corresponding pair of serial data output ports. The electrical apparatus also converts serial data that is received on serial data input ports to parallel data that is transmitted on parallel data output ports. The serial data that is received on a corresponding pair of serial data input ports is combined and transmitted from a parallel data output port.
In addition to converting parallel input data to serial output data and converting serial input data to parallel output data, the electrical apparatus can direct converted parallel input data from any of the parallel data input ports to any of the corresponding pairs of serial data output ports and can direct converted serial input data from any of the corresponding pairs of serial data input ports to any of the parallel data output ports.
The electrical apparatus can also direct converted parallel input data from any of the parallel data input ports to more than one of the corresponding pairs of serial data output ports. The electrical apparatus can also direct converted serial input data from any of the corresponding pairs of serial data input ports to more than one parallel data output ports.
The electrical apparatus can further direct converted serial input data from more than one of the corresponding pairs of serial data input ports to a single parallel data output port. The electrical apparatus can further direct converted parallel input data from a single parallel data input port to either of one or another of the corresponding pairs of serial data output ports according to the value of a switching bit in a cell header of the converted parallel input data.
The above-described functions of the electrical apparatus allow the number of physical connections that must be made across a backplane in a network switch to be reduced, while not reducing the data rate associated with signal connections utilizing those physical connections. Furthermore, the above-described functions of the electrical apparatus allow the reduced number of physical connections to be used in an efficient manner so that signal connections may be made to provide for signal redundancy and to compensate for hardware failures in the network switch.
In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells across a backplane in a network switch.
The above-stated primary object, as well as other objects, features, and advantages, of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description which is to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4064360 (1977-12-01), Koenig
patent: 4123624 (1978-10-01), Gagnier et al.
patent: 4392221 (1983-07-01), Hesketh
patent: 4878215 (1989-10-01), Rogers
patent: 4975901 (1990-12-01), Poli
patent: 5007050 (1991-04-01), Kasparian et al.
patent: 5046064 (1991-09-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5189666 (1993-02-01), Kagawa
patent: 5440550 (1995-08-01), Follett
patent: 5475679 (1995-12-01), Munter
patent: 5485455 (1996-01-01), Dobbins et al.
patent: 5726990 (1998-03-01), Shimada et al.
patent: 5835498 (1998-11-01), Kim et al.
DeAngelis Patrick L.
Ganmukhi Mahesh N.
Li Siu Wing
Ascend Communications, Inc.
Pham Chi H.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
Yao Kwang B.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for efficiently transferring ATM cells... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603334