Patent ID: 7139255
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A bandwidth grooming apparatus for a telecommunications network element for providing dynamically-configurable data link-selection, comprising: a switching module operably coupled to a plurality of links, wherein each link has an address identifier and is operable to transport a datastream to said switching module for switching, wherein a datastream is presented to said switching module via a data storage unit; an allocation storage unit operable to store, responsive to a control unit, address identifiers of at least a sub-plurality of said links; and a multiplexer operable to select, responsive to the contents of said allocation storage unit, at least one link among said plurality of links for providing a datastream supported by said at least one link to said data storage unit coupled to said switching module, wherein said data storage unit can only store a sub-plurality of said plurality of links; said allocation storage unit is first populated with address identifiers of active links of said plurality of links, wherein additional links can be coupled to said switching module without increasing the capacity of said data storage unit.