Patent ID: 6038210
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A switching apparatus switching over a double module including first and second modules, comprising:a key input unit including a mode setting switch and a device selecting switch said mode setting switch and said device selecting switch being switched by a user, said mode setting switch switching between setting an automatic mode and setting a manual mode, said device selecting switch switching between selecting said first module and selecting said second module;a manual switchover unit being electrically connected to said key input unit, selectively generating a first control signal for switching over to said first module and a second control signal for switching over to said second module according to a device selecting signal received from said device selecting switch of said key input unit;an automatic switchover unit selectively generating said first and second control signals according to first and second status signals and according to first and second switchover request signals, said automatic switchover unit further comprising:a status-responsive switchover unit receiving said first status signal from said first module, receiving said second status signal from said second module, said first status signal indicating a normal or an abnormal status of said first module, said second status signal indicating a normal or an abnormal status of said second module; anda request-responsive switchover unit selectively receiving said first switchover request signal from said first module and said second switchover request signal from said second module, said first and second switchover request signals corresponding to requests to switch between said first and second modules;a switchover mode selecting unit being electrically connected to said manual switchover unit and said automatic switchover unit and said key input unit, selectively outputting control signals received from said manual switchover unit and said automatic switchover unit according to input received from said mode setting switch; anda control selecting unit being electrically connected to said switchover mode selecting unit and said first and second modules, forming a communication path with one module selected from among said first and second modules respectively according to one of said first and second control signals output from said switchover mode selecting unit.