EP0539755A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Very large scale modular switch
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Switch resources for a one-sided crosspoint switch with distributed control (i.e., switch ports, internal busses and controllers) have been organized so that modular growth is facilitated by: (1) assigning each switch port uniquely to one of the controllers; (2) making each controller handle only the crosspoints connected to the switch ports assigned to it; (3) assigning each internal bus uniquely to one of the controllers; and (4) providing a means for the controllers to communicate with each other. Modular growth of any of the switch resources (i.e., switch ports, internal busses and/or controllers) is accommodated by effectively reallocating (i.e., modifying the assignment of) some or all of the resources. Failure of a switch resource is accommodated also by effectively reallocating (i.e., modifying the assignment of) some or all of the remaining usable resources. It is contemplated that modification of resource allocation can be done in various alternative ways, either physically or electronically, including automatically and even dynamically.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A. Franaszek
- 👤 Christos John Georgiou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A one-sided crosspoint switch for making simultaneous electrical interconnections among a plurality of ports in response to interconnection requests, comprising: a plurality of ports partitioned into N groups of ports; a plurality of N controllers, each of said controllers servicing a distinct one of said groups of ports; a plurality of internal busses partitioned into N groups of internal busses, a distinct one of said groups of internal busses being assigned for use by each of said controllers; a plurality of crosspoint switching elements, a distinct one of said crosspoint switching elements connecting each one of said ports with each one of said internal busses for making a selective electrical interconnection between said connected one port and said connected one internal bus; means for each of said controllers to control a distinct group of said crosspoint switching elements, said distinct group of crosspoint switching elements controlled by said each controller being all of said crosspoint switching elements that are connected to a port in said group of ports serviced by said each controller; and a communication system interconnecting said controllers, whereby said controllers can simultaneously process and implement a plurality of interconnection requests.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 1 wherein said communication system utilizes communication paths which do not include any of said internal busses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said communication system is a one-sided crosspoint switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein each of said controllers includes means for storing a connection status for each of said ports being serviced by said each controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein a controller services a group of ports by responding to interconnection requests from said serviced group of ports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 5 wherein a first controller responds to a request for interconnection of a first port serviced by said first controller with a second port serviced by a second controller by sending a message over said communication system to said second controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 6 wherein said request for interconnection is partially handled by said second controller in response to said message from said first controller by determining whether said second port is available for interconnection, and in the event said second port is available, switching a crosspoint element controlled by said second controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 7 wherein said request for interconnection is a request for a duplex interconnection, which is partially handled by said second controller by switching two crosspoint elements controlled by said second controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 7 wherein said crosspoint element switched by said second controller is fully specified in said message sent to said second controller by said first controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 7 wherein said crosspoint element switched by said second controller is determined by said second controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 6 wherein said first controller responds to said request for interconnection by switching a crosspoint element which interconnects said first port with an internal bus in said group of internal busses assigned to said first controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 6 wherein said message identifies said second port and identifies an internal bus for use in making said interconnection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 12 wherein said message further identifies said first port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 6 wherein said second controller sends a reply message to said first controller in the event said second port is not available for interconnection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A crosspoint switch as defined in Claim 14 wherein said reply message is sent on said communication system. These and further objects and features are provided by this
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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