US6359858B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switching redundancy control
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1999-06-03
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Granted: 2002-03-19
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Expires: 2019-06-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for switching redundancy control which provides fast switching from a malfunctioning component to a redundant component with minimum data flow interruption for both transmitted and received data. The redundancy control system having an APS (Automatic Switching Protection) Hub, at least a working and a redundant tributary card, a bridge to provide identical traffic to the working and redundant tributary cards, a working and a redundant STM switching fabric, selectors within the working and redundant STM switching fabrics for selecting the traffic from the working tributary card to further process, a working and a redundant ATM switching fabric, a working and a redundant ATM processor and ATM selectors for selecting traffic needing cell switching from the working STM switching fabric to process further. The system is capable of monitoring itself to detect failures and the APS Hub is outfitted so as to become aware of detected failures and initiate a switch in the appropriate selectors or ATM selectors so as to change the traffic being further processed from the failed working component to the redundant component.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Smith
- 👤 Masahiro Shinbashi
- 👤 Edward Qian
- 👤 Daniel Joseph Mieczkowski
- 👤 David Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/30; H04L49/3081; H04L49/55; H04L49/552; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04J; H04J2203/00; H04J2203/0001; H04J2203/0057; H04J2203/006; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
A redundancy control system comprising: a plurality of tributary cards, each of said cards being outfitted so as to detect failures and one of said plurality of tributary cards being a working tributary card and another of said plurality of tributary cards being a redundant tributary card; a bridge, said bridge being outfitted so as to provide identical traffic to said working and redundant tributary cards; a working STS switching fabric, said working STS switching fabric receiving data frames from said working and redundant tributary cards, said working STS switching fabric comprising a first selector, said first selector being outfitted so as to select received traffic from one of said working and redundant tributary cards to process; a redundant STS switching fabric, said redundant STS switching fabric also receiving said data frames from said card, said redundant STS switching fabric comprising a second selector, said second selector being outfitted so as to select received traffic from one of said working and redundant tributary cards to process; a plurality of ATM switching fabric cards, said plurality of ATM switching fabric cards receiving data frames from said working and redundant STS switching fabrics; a plurality of ATM processor cards, one of said ATM switching fabric cards and one of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a first redundancy group and another of said ATM switching fabric cards and another of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a second redundancy group; and an APS hub, said APS hub being outfitted so as to become aware of detected failures on said plurality of tributary cards and switch said selector so as to select received data frames from said redundant tributary card upon becoming aware of a detected failure on said working tributary card, said APS hub further being outfitted so as to select one of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group to be working and another of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group to be redundant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
A redundancy control system comprising: a plurality of tributary cards, each of said cards being outfitted so as to detect failures and one of said plurality of tributary cards being a working tributary card and another of said plurality of tributary cards being a redundant tributary card; a bridge, said bridge being outfitted so as to provide identical traffic to said working and redundant tributary cards; a working STS switching fabric, said working STS switching fabric receiving data frames from said working and redundant tributary cards, said working STS switching fabric comprising a first selector, said first selector being outfitted so as to select received traffic from one of said working and redundant tributary cards to process; a redundant STS switching fabric, said redundant STS switching fabric also receiving said data frames from said card, said redundant STS switching fabric comprising a second selector, said second selector being outfitted so as to select received traffic from one of said working and redundant tributary cards to process; a plurality of ATM switching fabric cards, said plurality of ATM switching fabric cards receiving data frames from said working and redundant STS switching fabrics; a plurality of ATM processor cards, one of said ATM switching fabric cards and one of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a first redundancy group and another of said ATM switching fabric cards and another of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a second redundancy group; and an APS hub, said APS hub being outfitted so as to become aware of detected failures on said plurality of tributary cards and switch said selector so as to select received data frames from said redundant tributary card upon becoming aware of a detected failure on said working tributary card, said APS hub further being outfitted so as to select one of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group to be working and another of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group to be redundant.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of redundancy control, comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; opening a relay on said redundant card at or about a time of said writing said MAC address step; receiving data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; and after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of redundancy control, comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; opening a relay on said redundant card at or about a time of said writing said MAC address step; receiving data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; and after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein said writing said MAC address step comprises writing said MAC address to non-volatile RAM.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 2 , further comprising the steps of informing said redundant card that it is now a working card, and closing said relay.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of redundancy control, the method comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; receiving data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card; and opening a relay on said working card at or about a time of said detecting a failure step.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of redundancy control, the method comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; receiving data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card; and opening a relay on said working card at or about a time of said detecting a failure step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said writing said MAC address step comprises writing said MAC address to non-volatile RAM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of opening a relay on said redundant card at or about a time of said writing said MAC address step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of informing said redundant card that it is now a working card and closing said relay.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein both a working and a redundant STS switching fabric receive said data from said working card.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of redundancy control, the method comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; receiving data from said working card, wherein both a working and a redundant STS switching fabric receive said data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; and after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of redundancy control, the method comprising the steps of: provisioning a first and a second card so that one of said first and second cards is a working card and one is a redundant card; reading a MAC address from said first card; writing said MAC address to said second card; receiving data from said working card, wherein both a working and a redundant STS switching fabric receive said data from said working card; detecting a failure on said working card; and after detecting said failure, switching packet data received, so that said packet data received is received from said redundant card rather than from said working card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said writing said MAC address step comprises writing said MAC address to non-volatile RAM.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of opening a relay on said redundant card at or about a time of said writing said MAC address step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of informing said redundant card that it is now a working card and closing said relay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of opening a relay on said working card at or about a time of said detecting a failure step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A redundancy control system, comprising: a card; a working STS switching fabric, said working STS switching fabric receiving traffic frames from said card; a redundant STS switching fabric, said redundant STS switching fabric also receiving said traffic frames from said card; wherein after processing a predetermined number of consecutive traffic frames containing detected errors, said redundant STS switching fabric and said working STS switching fabric are switched over, so that said working STS switching fabric becomes redundant and said redundant STS switching fabric becomes working, wherein said switch-over is not immediately reversible.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A redundancy control system, comprising: a card; a working STS switching fabric, said working STS switching fabric receiving traffic frames from said card; a redundant STS switching fabric, said redundant STS switching fabric also receiving said traffic frames from said card; wherein after processing a predetermined number of consecutive traffic frames containing detected errors, said redundant STS switching fabric and said working STS switching fabric are switched over, so that said working STS switching fabric becomes redundant and said redundant STS switching fabric becomes working, wherein said switch-over is not immediately reversible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A redundancy control system as in claim 15 , wherein said switch-over will not occur if errors in frames processed by said redundant STS switching fabric are also detected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
A redundancy control system comprising: a plurality of ATM switching fabric cards; a plurality of ATM processor cards, one of said ATM switching fabric cards and one of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a first redundancy group and another of said ATM switching fabric cards and another of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a second redundancy group; and an APS hub; wherein, one of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group is working and another of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group is redundant and wherein said APS hub selects which redundancy group is working.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
A redundancy control system comprising: a plurality of ATM switching fabric cards; a plurality of ATM processor cards, one of said ATM switching fabric cards and one of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a first redundancy group and another of said ATM switching fabric cards and another of said ATM processor cards being grouped to form a second redundancy group; and an APS hub; wherein, one of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group is working and another of said first redundancy group and said second redundancy group is redundant and wherein said APS hub selects which redundancy group is working.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising a bus, said bus being coupled to said APS hub and said first and second redundancy groups, wherein said APS hub selects which redundancy group is working via sending a request over said bus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said bus is coupled to said first and second redundancy groups via said one of said ATM processor cards and said another of said ATM processor cards, respectively.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said ATM processor cards each convey a state to said APS hub via said bus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of sets of registers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising a bus ASIC, said bus ASIC being outfitted so as to generate an interrupt to software on said ATM processor cards upon an update to a register within said plurality of sets of registers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each of said sets of registers stores data indicative of whether an ATM processing card is present in a particular slot.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each of said sets of registers stores data indicative of whether an ATM switching fabric is present in a particular slot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each of said sets of registers is associated with one of said redundancy groups and stores data indicative of a request by said APS hub for a respective redundancy group to be working or redundant.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each of said sets of registers stores data indicative of a status of an associated ATM processing card.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a fault register containing an indication of a type of fault found in one of said redundancy groups.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second redundancy groups further comprises a control bus connecting said redundancy groups' respective ATM processing card to said redundancy groups' respective ATM switching fabric, said control bus permitting said respective ATM processing card to receive interrupts from said respective ATM switching fabric.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising a link and a network element CPU, said link connecting said plurality of ATM processor cards to said network element CPU such that said plurality of ATM processor cards are capable of downloading an ATM database over said link from said network element CPU.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 29 , wherein said link is an HDLC link.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said ATM processor cards are capable of detecting faults within themselves and said ATM switching fabrics.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising two interrupt lines, one of said interrupt lines connecting said first redundancy group to said APS hub and another of said interrupt lines connecting said second redundancy group to said APS hub, said two interrupt lines being outfitted so as to convey interrupts to said APS hub.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a software watchdog interrupt.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a card pull out interrupt.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a power up reset interrupt.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a front panel reset interrupt.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a ATM processor card memory bus error interrupt.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include an illegal instruction interrupt.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a PCI bus interrupt.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a Utopia parity error interrupt.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a switching fabric memory parity error interrupt.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a switching fabric memory bus error interrupt.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include a software bus error interrupt.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include an ATM processor card insert interrupt.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include an ATM processor card pull-out interrupt.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include an ATM switching fabric insert interrupt.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
A redundancy control system as claimed in claim 32 , wherein said interrupts include an ATM switching fabric pull-out interrupt.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of redundancy control comprising: monitoring a working and redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric for faults; upon detection of a fault, switching-over said working and redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric so that said working ATM processor and ATM switching fabric become a new redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric and said redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric become a new working ATM processor and ATM switching fabric, wherein said working and redundant ATM processors disconnect TCP/IP connections to a CPU and reverse their connections, so that said working ATM processor is now connected to a redundant connection and said redundant ATM processor is now connected to a working connection.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of redundancy control comprising: monitoring a working and redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric for faults; upon detection of a fault, switching-over said working and redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric so that said working ATM processor and ATM switching fabric become a new redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric and said redundant ATM processor and ATM switching fabric become a new working ATM processor and ATM switching fabric, wherein said working and redundant ATM processors disconnect TCP/IP connections to a CPU and reverse their connections, so that said working ATM processor is now connected to a redundant connection and said redundant ATM processor is now connected to a working connection.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of redundancy control as claimed in claim 48 , further comprising the step of said redundant ATM processor restarting UNI/NNI calls and clearing SVC entries upon being switched-over.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of redundancy control as claimed in claim 49 , further comprising the steps of said new working ATM processor enabling switch ports on said new working ATM switching fabric and said new redundant ATM processor disabling switch ports on said new redundant ATM switching fabric.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-03-18 | 2005-09-17 | 2006-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-18 | 2009-09-17 | 2010-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-18 | 2013-09-17 | 2014-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |