Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-05-15
Vu, Huy D. (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S390000, C370S418000, C439S144000, C439S157000, C439S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233239
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to packaging in the telecommunication field and more particularly to a package for a communication equipment which is fitted with mechanical locking means and electrical and communication connectivity means for allowing communication with at least four distinct connected apparatuses.
BACKGROUND ART
Telecommunications equipments involve the use of rapidly evolving technology and techniques. This continuous evolution obviously tend to render the products rapidly out of date, thus preventing the manufacturers to take profit from the expected return on investments.
A partial solution to this need for continuous evolving techniques can be found in the possibilities for a manufacturer to base his design of new products on the use of different cards that are assembled in order to embody a more powerful and more sophisticated product. Such a solution is particularly used in the field of personal computer where new products are based on the use of many different sub-elements and interface cards.
In the telecommunication field the market discloses some stackable or rack-mounted products. This provides some possibilities of evolution and reduced size.
However this solution is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, in this field the possibilities to assemble different cards and sub-elements provided by different telecommunication manufacturers appears limited since no accurate common way of connection for the different elements actually exists. Additionally, the known solution do not achieve the possibility of hot-plugging of any element on the stack, lateral extension, etc . . . , which would make the design and use of equipment much easier.
Generally network design includes several products interconnected together where the customer would prefer a single product line proposal, easier to install, to manage, open to evolution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a possibility of easily integrating telecommunication functions in order to embody a sophisticated telecommunication product, with the possibility of allowing hot-plugging, and easy update of the different elements forming the product.
The object of the present invention is to provide an uniform possibility of integrating networking independent products and some small and medium size computers used in networking.
This problem is solved by the apparatus that is defined in the set of claims.
The object of the invention is provided by means of an apparatus that includes mechanical and electrical connection means for allowing the attachment and the plugging of additional apparatus of the same type in order to constitute a more sophisticated Tower Structure. The attachment is made possible at least either on the Left side, the Right side, the Top side or the bottom side and the communication between one apparatus and its neighbours is allowed by means of frames comprising a routing header of n bytes with n being an integer, said header being followed by an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (A.T.M.) cell.
Basically each apparatus in the structure comprises:
first receiving means and first transmitting means for respectively receiving a data flow from and for transmitting a data flow to an Upwardly attached first apparatus;
second receiving means and second transmitting means for respectively receiving a data flow from and for transmitting a data flow to a Downwardly attached second apparatus;
third receiving means and third transmitting means for respectively receiving a data flow from and for transmitting a data flow to a Leftwardly attached third apparatus;
fourth receiving means and fourth transmitting means for respectively receiving a data flow from and for transmitting a data flow to a Rightwardly attached fourth apparatus;
storage means for storing data flows coming either from said receiving means or to be transmitted to said transmitting means;
switching means comprising at least four input ports that are respectively connected to received data flows coming from said first, said second, said third and said fourth receiving means; said switching means further comprising at least four output ports that are respectively connected to transmit data flows to said first, said second, said third and said fourth output ports in accordance with parameters loaded by the first n bytes of said frame;
control means for controlling said switching means so that the frame is routed to the appropriate output port. This allows communication between any elements in the structure by means of an unlimited possibilities of routing paths.
Preferably each of said first, second, third and fourth receiving means includes means for dynamically modifying said routing header of said frame in accordance with parameters (VPI, VCI) loaded into said ATM cell before the frame is presented to one input port of said switch (
200
).
Each apparatus includes functional means for embodying a telecommunication service function, such as ISDN gateway, echo cancellation or data compression that is likely to be needed in said Tower Structure, said telecommunication service function establishing Asynchronous Transfer Mode sessions with another apparatus of the Tower Structure in order to exchange frames including a routing header and a ATM data cell that are dynamically forwarded throughout intermediate apparatuses situated on the routing path.
The invention also provides a process for operating a communication equipment comprising a set of mechanically connected apparatuses being vertically and horizontally packed. Each apparatus comprises telecommunication functions such as echo cancellation data compression or ISDN gateway, as well as vertical and horizontal mechanical and communication connections respectively allowing the vertical and horizontal exchanges of frames with neighbouring apparatuses. The communication is based on a frame comprising n bytes routing header with n being an integer and an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (A.T.M.) cell.
The process in accordance with the present invention involves the steps of establishing ATM sessions for each communication between a first and second apparatuses of said structure whereby said first apparatus can access to the telecommunication functions located into said second apparatus; said ATM sessions being established under control of one particular apparatus of the structure being devoted to the role of Tower Manager assigning sessions parameters (VP/VC) to any new request of ATM sessions.
Preferably, each ATM session that is established between two apparatuses involves the running of a counting process for automatically transmitting, after a predetermined period of inactivity of the session, a signalling ATM cell that allows checking of the session.
In a preferred embodiment the process further involves the step of assigning, for each vertical and horizontal segment of said structure, a particular Segment Manager which has the role of forwarding to said Tower Manager any registration request initiated by a new apparatus being plugged in said segment during an registration procedure. In the registration procedure each newly plugged apparatus transmits a specific registration request to any vertical and horizontally connected neighbouring apparatus. This request is then forwarded by each vertical or horizontal neighbour to their respective vertical and horizontal segment manager which, eventually, forwards the request to the Tower Manager. The latter may then establish a new ATM session with the newly plugged apparatus by assigning a new VP/VC parameters.
In a preferred embodiment, the VP/VC parameters that are assigned to each ATM session is associated with a particular topographical routing path that is defined by the Tower Manager and that is used for the transmission of the ATM cells of that ATM session throughout the different intermediate apparatuses belonging to that routing path. Each apparatus that receives a frame that belongs to a particular ATM session locally computes the appropriate value of the routing header corresponding
Benayoun Alain
Cavallo Patrick
Le Pennec Jean-Francois
Michel Patrick
Cesari & McKenna LLP
Chan M.
Cisco Systems Inc.
Vu Huy D.
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