Patent ID: 6256293
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
In a multichannel communications system having N channels with N line cards connected to a transmission medium of said system, a method of rerouting a channel upon detection of a failed line card in the N line cards, said method comprising:(a) partitioning said line cards into an integer number i of groups of size at most k.sub.i +1, where each group has a spare line card, and wherein said spare line card has at least an integer number k.sub.i of spare line card local ports and a spare line card link port;(b) for each line card in a predetermined group that is not a spare line card, connecting each line card in said predetermined group to an individually assigned spare line card local port in said predetermined group; and(c) upon detection of a failed line card in said predetermined group, said failed line card including a failed line card I/O port and a failed line card local port, rerouting said failed line card I/O port through said failed line card local port to said assigned spare line card local port, then to said spare line card link port in said predetermined group.