Method and circuit arrangement for disturbance-free redirection of a message cell stream onto an alternate route

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alternate route is defined and set up only in response to the request signal.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alternate route and transmission capacity required therefor are pre-defined together with the active route, transmission of the first message cell stream ensuing exclusively via the active route until appearance of the request signal.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alternate route is pre-defined together with the active route, a transmission capacity required for the alternate route being requested after occurrence of the request signal.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmission capacity required for the alternate route is used for low-priority message traffic until appearance of the request signal.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: in regards to the second step, constantly duplicating, in the first switching equipment located at the start of the route pair, the supplied message cell stream to form the first and second message cell streams that are separately supplied via the active route and via the alternate route, respectively, to the central synchronization means over the second switching equipment that is located at the end of the route pair; in regards to the third to fifth steps, supplying from said central synchronization means the first message cell stream, supplied via the active route, to the allocated second switching equipment for forwarding, and constantly synchronizing the first and second message cell streams in the central synchronizing means; and in regards to the sixth step, supplying, given outage of the active route, the second message cell stream, supplied via the alternate route, to the allocated second switching equipment.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: respectively inserting respective control cells at defined time intervals into the first and second message cell streams supplied to the central synchronization means, the respective control cells containing sequence numbers that continuously change from control cell to control cell; and synchronizing the first and second message cell streams, with respect to compensation of differences in transit time caused by the active route and alternate route, in the central synchronization means using the sequence numbers appearing in the control cells of the first and second message cell streams.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 7, wherein the compensation of the differences in running time is implemented step-by-step by the central synchronization means.

Claim 10

A circuit arrangement for redirection a message cell stream transmitted in a virtual route or during the course of a virtual connection via an active route onto an alternate route that forms a virtual route pair together with an active route in a cell-oriented communication network having a plurality of switching equipment, comprising: a first switching equipment located at a start of the route pair, the first switching equipment receiving a message cell stream of the appertaining virtual route or of the appertaining virtual connection and duplicating the received message cell stream in response to a request signal to form first and second message cell streams; a second switching equipment connected to the first switching equipment, the first switching equipment supplying the first and second message cell streams resulting separately via the active route and via the alternate route, respectively, to the second switching equipment located at the end of the route pair; at least one central synchronization means allocated to the second switching equipment located at the end of the route pair, said synchronization means being temporarily supplied with the first and second messages streams via the allocated second switching equipment, the synchronization means initially supplying only the first message cell stream to the allocated second switching equipment for forwarding, and, after synchronization has been carried out, supplying the second message cell stream to the allocated second switching equipment instead of the first message cell stream; and wherein, after the second message cell stream is supplied to the second switching equipment the central synchronization means is no longer supplied with the second message cell stream.

Claim 11

A circuit arrangement for redirection a message cell stream transmitted in a virtual route or during the course of a virtual connection via an active route onto an alternate route that forms a virtual route pair together with an active route in a cell-oriented communication network having a plurality of switching equipment, comprising: a first switching equipment located at a start of the route pair, the first switching equipment receiving a message cell stream of the appertaining virtual route or of the appertaining virtual connection and duplicating the received message cell stream in response to a request signal to form first and second message cell streams; a second switching equipment connected to the first switching equipment, the first switching equipment supplying the first and second message cell streams resulting separately via the active route and via the alternate route, respectively, to the second switching equipment located at the end of the route pair; at least one central synchronization means allocated to the second switching equipment located at the end of the route pair, said synchronization means being temporarily supplied with the first and second messages streams via the allocated second switching equipment, the synchronization means initially supplying only the first message cell stream to the allocated second switching equipment for forwarding, and, after synchronization has been carried out, supplying the second message cell stream to the allocated second switching equipment instead of the first message cell stream; and wherein, after the second message cell stream is supplied to the second switching equipment the central synchronization means is no longer supplied with the second message cell stream.

Claim 12

The circuit arrangement according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of message cell streams are provided and wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of central synchronization equipment, each thereof being respectively individually allocatable to a virtual route to be redirected or to a virtual connection to be redirected.

Claim 13

The circuit arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the central synchronization means has an input side connected to an output line terminal of the allocated second switching equipment and has an output side connected to an input line terminal of the allocated second switching equipment.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 12, wherein the alternate route is defined and set up only in response to the request signal.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 12, wherein the alternate route and transmission capacity required therefor are pre-defined together with the active route, transmission of the first message cell stream ensuing exclusively via the active route until appearance of the request signal.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 12, wherein the alternate route is pre-defined together with the active route, a transmission capacity required for the alternate route being requested after occurrence of the request signal.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 14, wherein the transmission capacity required for the alternate route is used for low-priority message traffic until appearance of the request signal.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: respectively inserting respective control cells at defined time intervals into the first and second message cell streams supplied to the central synchronization means, the respective control cells containing sequence numbers that continuously change from control cell to control cell; and synchronizing the first and second message cell streams, with respect to compensation of differences in transit time caused by the active route and alternate route, in the central synchronization means using the sequence numbers appearing in the control cells of the first and second message cell streams.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 17, wherein the compensation of the differences in running time is implemented step-by-step by the central synchronization means.