US5526359A — Integrated multi-fabric digital cross-connect tim…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A timing architecture for an integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system, said integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system integrating broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems having broadband, wideband, and narrowband cross-connect matrices, respectively, the timing architecture comprising: a broadband time base encompassing said broadband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams; a wideband time base encompassing said wideband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams; a narrowband time base encompassing said narrowband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous DS0 level bit streams; a broadband-wideband interface coupled between said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface; and a wideband-narrowband interface coupled between said wideband and narrowband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

A timing architecture for an integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system, said integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system integrating broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems having broadband, wideband, and narrowband cross-connect matrices, respectively, the timing architecture comprising: a broadband time base encompassing said broadband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams; a wideband time base encompassing said wideband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams; a narrowband time base encompassing said narrowband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous DS0 level bit streams; a broadband-wideband interface coupled between said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface; and a wideband-narrowband interface coupled between said wideband and narrowband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 163 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: first and second redundant timing reference signals; a broadband timing subsystem coupled to said broadband matrix for receiving said first and second redundant timing reference signals, said broadband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating broadband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said broadband time base; a wideband timing subsystem coupled to said wideband matrix for receiving said first and second redundant timing reference signals, said wideband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating wideband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said wideband time base; and a narrowband timing subsystem coupled to said narrowband matrix for receiving said first and second redundant timing reference signals, said narrowband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating narrowband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said narrowband time base.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 67 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said broadband subsystem further comprises high speed line termination units and long-distance optical links coupling said high speed line termination units to said broadband cross-connect matrix, and further long-distance optical links coupling said broadband cross-connect matrix to said wideband subsystem, said broadband time base encompassing said high speed line termination units and both said long-distance optical links.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising circuitry for loop-timing outbound traffic of said broadband subsystem to inbound traffic on said long-distance optical links.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising circuitry for phase alignment associated with said optical links.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 5, wherein broadband subsystem comprises redundant copies of cross-connect matrix, optical links and multiplexers, and circuitry for monitoring said redundant copies, selecting one as an active copy, and circuitry for switching said active copy to another copy.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wideband subsystem further comprises low speed line termination units and long-distance optical links coupling said wideband cross-connect matrix thereto, said wideband time base encompassing said low speed line termination units and said long-distance optical links.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 7, further comprising circuitry for loop-timing inbound traffic to outbound traffic on said long-distance optical links.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 7, further comprising circuitry for phase alignment associated with said optical links.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 9, wherein wideband subsystem comprises redundant copies of cross-connect matrix, optical links and multiplexers, and circuitry for monitoring said redundant copies, selecting one as an active copy, and circuitry for switching said active copy to another copy.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said narrowband cross-connect matrix is coupled to said wideband cross-connect matrix by long-distance optical links, said wideband time base encompassing said long-distance optical links therebetween.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising circuitry for phase alignment associated with said optical links.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 12, wherein narrowband subsystem comprises redundant copies of cross-connect matrix, optical links and multiplexers, and circuitry for monitoring said redundant copies, selecting one as an active copy, and circuitry for switching said active copy to another copy.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising circuitry for loop-timing inbound traffic of said wideband subsystem to outbound traffic on said long-distance optical links.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said broadband-wideband interface comprises pointer processing circuitry for frequency justification of said synchronous bit streams transmitted between said broadband and wideband time bases.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wideband-narrowband interface comprises pointer processing circuitry for frequency justification of said synchronous bit streams transmitted between said wideband and narrowband time bases.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 110 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said broadband subsystem further comprises high speed line termination units and long-distance optical links coupling said high speed line termination units to said broadband cross-connect matrix, and long-distance optical links coupling said broadband cross-connect matrix to said wideband subsystem; said wideband subsystem further comprises low speed line termination units and long-distance optical links coupling said wideband cross-connect matrix thereto; said narrowband cross-connect matrix is coupled to said wideband cross-connect matrix by long-distance optical links; and each said optical links carrying a plurality of multiplexed signals, the timing architecture further comprising circuitry for phase alignment associated with each said optical link.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said phase alignment circuitry comprises phase alignment buffers for receiving data at a receiving phase and outputting data at an outputting phase.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said phase alignment circuitry comprises servoing circuitry.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said servoing circuitry includes an offset register for storing an offset value representing the phase offset between an inbound signal on said optical links and a local timing scheme.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said servoing circuitry further comprises circuitry for adjusting the phase of said inbound signal using said offset value.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wideband subsystem further comprises tributary signal processors multiplexing inbound and outbound signals to and from said wideband matrix, the timing architecture further comprising circuitry for phase alignment associated with each said tributary signal processor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said phase alignment circuitry comprises: phase alignment buffers for receiving data at a receiving phase and outputting data at an outputting phase; and a servoing circuitry.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 48 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 23, wherein said servoing circuitry includes: an offset register for storing an offset value representing the phase offset between an inbound signal a local timing scheme; and circuitry for adjusting the phase of said inbound signal using said offset value.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 31 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising circuitry for monitoring said first and second redundant timing reference signals and selecting one as an active timing reference signal.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 25, further comprising circuitry for switching between said first and second redundant timing reference signals.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for timing an integrated multi-rate cross-connect system integrating broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems, said broadband, wideband and narrowband subsystems including broadband, wideband, and narrowband cross-connect matrices, respectively, comprising the steps of: circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams in said broadband cross-connect matrix; circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams in said wideband cross-connect matrix; circuit switching synchronous DS0 level bit streams; interfacing said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween without a network; and interfacing said wideband and narrowband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween without a network.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for timing an integrated multi-rate cross-connect system integrating broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems, said broadband, wideband and narrowband subsystems including broadband, wideband, and narrowband cross-connect matrices, respectively, comprising the steps of: circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams in said broadband cross-connect matrix; circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams in said wideband cross-connect matrix; circuit switching synchronous DS0 level bit streams; interfacing said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween without a network; and interfacing said wideband and narrowband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween without a network.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 167 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: generating first and second redundant timing reference signals; distributing said first and second redundant timing reference signals to a broadband timing subsystem coupled to said broadband matrix, said broadband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating broadband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said broadband time base; distributing said first and second redundant timing reference signals to a wideband timing subsystem coupled to said wideband matrix, said wideband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating wideband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said wideband time base; and distributing said first and second redundant timing reference signals to a narrowband timing subsystem coupled to said narrowband matrix, said narrowband matrix selecting one of said redundant timing reference signals as an active timing signal and generating narrowband timing signals therefrom for distribution throughout said narrowband time base.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

The timing method, as forth in claim 28, further comprising the steps of: monitoring and testing said first and second timing reference signals; and deselecting said selected active timing signal and selecting the other redundant timing reference signal.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 47 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 28, further comprising the step of loop-timing inbound traffic to outbound traffic of respective subsystems on long-distance optical links coupling high speed line termination units to said broadband cross-connect matrix, and said broadband cross-connect matrix to said wideband subsystem.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 30, further comprising aligning the phases of signals on said optical links.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising the step of loop-timing inbound traffic to outbound traffic on long-distance optical links coupling low speed line termination units to said wideband cross-connect matrix.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 23 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 32, further comprising the step of aligning the phases of signals on said optical links.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 33, further comprising the steps of: selecting from among redundant copies of cross-connect matrix, optical links and multiplexers an active copy; and switching to another redundant copy in response to detecting performance failure in the active copy.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 45 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 34, further comprising the steps of: selecting from among redundant copies of cross-connect matrix, optical links and multiplexers an active copy; and switching to another redundant copy in response to detecting performance failure in the active copy.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising the step of loop-timing inbound traffic to outbound traffic on long-distance optical links coupling said narrowband cross-connect matrix to said wideband subsystem.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 30 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said broadband-wideband interfacing step comprises the step of pointer processing for frequency justification between said broadband and wideband time bases.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 30 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said wideband-narrowband interfacing step comprises the step of pointer processing for frequency justification between said wideband and narrowband time bases.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 25 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: signal multiplexing and demultiplexing; and aligning the phases of multiplexed signals.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 33 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 39, wherein said phase aligning step comprises the step of receiving and buffering data at a receiving phase and outputting data at an outputting phase.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 39, wherein said phase aligning step comprises the step of servoing.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 50 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 41, wherein said servoing step includes the steps of: determining a phase offset between a multiplexed signal and a local timing scheme; storing said phase offset in an offset register; and adjusting the phase of said inbound signal using said offset value.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: switching between redundant equipment; and aligning the signals to be transmitted by switchable equipment.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 35 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 43, wherein said phase aligning step comprises the steps of: receiving and buffering data at a receiving phase and outputting data at an outputting phase; and servoing.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 51 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 44, wherein said servoing step includes the steps of: determining a phase offset between an inbound multiplexed signal and a local timing scheme; storing said phase offset in an offset register; and adjusting the phase of said inbound signal using said offset value.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 94 words

A timing architecture for an integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system, said integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system integrating broadband and wideband subsystems having broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices, respectively, the timing architecture comprising: a broadband time base encompassing said broadband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams; a wideband time base encompassing said wideband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams; and a broadband-wideband interface coupled between said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 94 words

A timing architecture for an integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system, said integrated multi-rate synchronous transfer mode cross-connect system integrating broadband and wideband subsystems having broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices, respectively, the timing architecture comprising: a broadband time base encompassing said broadband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous STS-1 level bit streams; a wideband time base encompassing said wideband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous VT1.5 and VT2 level bit streams; and a broadband-wideband interface coupled between said broadband and wideband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 61 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 46, further integrating a narrowband subsystem having a narrowband cross-connect matrix, further comprising: a narrowband time base encompassing said narrowband cross-connect matrix circuit switching synchronous DSO level bit streams; and a wideband-narrowband interface coupled between said wideband and narrowband cross-connect matrices for transmitting said synchronous bit streams therebetween directly without a network interface.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 36 words

The timing architecture, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said integrated broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems includes redundant signal transmission planes, and circuitry for selectively switching between phase-aligned signals on said redundant signal transmission planes.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 52 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said broadband, wideband, and narrowband subsystems includes redundant signal transmission planes, the method further comprising the steps of: aligning the phases of signals on said redundant signal transmission planes; and selectively switching between said phase-aligned signals on said redundant signal transmission planes.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 34 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 49, wherein said redundant signal transmission planes include redundant optical links, said selectively switching step includes the step of selectively switching between said redundant optical links.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 20 words

The timing method, as set forth in claim 39, further comprising the step of selectively switching between said phase-aligned signals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-06-11	1999-12-11	2000-06-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-06-11	2003-12-11	2004-06-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-06-11	2007-12-11	2008-06-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Integrated multi-fabric digital cross-connect timing architecture

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag