Patent ID: 6034943
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A communication node, for use in an inter-processor communications system in an asynchronous transfer mode switching system, for providing two independent paths to two upper layer switching modules for two duplicated processors, respectively, wherein a path from each processor to the two upper layer switching modules includes the communication node, a controller, and a node switching device, the node switching devices being connected to N number of nodes, N being a positive integer, and two duplicated processors, two communication nodes and two upper layer switching modules are operated based on an active and stand-by mode scheme, data transmitted between the processor and the two upper layer switching modules being transmitted in the unit of a data packet, the data packet including an information field, a node address field and a payload type field for representing whether the data is switching information or not, which comprising:a first receiving and sending means for receiving data from an active processor, sending said data to a selecting means when the controller confirms that a complete data packet is received and stored therein, receiving data from a dividing means and sending said data to the active processor when the controller confirms that a complete data packet is received and stored therein;a second receiving and sending means for receiving data from a stand-by processor, sending said data to a selecting means when the controller confirms that a complete data packet is received and stored therein, receiving data from a dividing means and sending said data to the stand-by processor when the controller confrims that a complete data packet is received and stored therein;the selecting means for receiving a selecting signal from the controller, selecting one of two input terminals coupled to the first receiving and sending means and the second receiving and sending means and providing the selected input data to an interfacing means;the dividing means for receiving data from the upper layer switching modules, checking the payload type field and providing said data to either one of the first receiving and sending means and second receiving and sending means depending the payload type field; andthe interfacing means for receiving data from the two duplicated upper layer switching modules, sending said data to the the dividing means, receiving data from the selecting means and sending said data to the two duplicated upper layer switching modules.