Patent ID: 7124163
Filing Date: 2006-10-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A data server for use in networks in which media signals are transmitted as digital signals in packet form, wherein packets of media data from said networks are to be processed by said data server; said data server comprising: at least one shelf having at least one card thereon providing a shelf controller function and a media processor function; the card providing the media processor function having a plurality of inter-processor buses communicating with digital signal processors thereon, and a digital signal router to distribute media data packets to the various digital signal processors; at least one control and management interface for receiving external control and management signals in packetized form; at least one connection interface for sending out to, and receiving said media signals from a media network; wherein said shelf controller function provides access through said at least one control and management interface to control and management signals for distributed software which is distributed on said at least one card on said shelf, and said media processor function provides access to and processing of said media signals in packet form; wherein said distributed software on said shelf consists of a modular software architecture having a transport layer, a media processing layer, a session control layer, and a management plane; wherein said management plane spans across said transport layer, said media layer, and said session control layer; wherein the digital signal processors providing the media function perform said media function in real time to process incoming signals received on said at least one connection interface and prepare said processed media signals for sending out on said at least one connection interface, said plurality of digital signal processors having a plurality of discrete software objects embedded therein so as to be adapted to process said packets of media data in keeping with said software objects; wherein said plurality of discrete software objects are dynamically changeable under the control of said control and management signals through said at least one control interface; wherein said management plane is adapted for provisioning and monitoring the operations of said data server, and to give alarms in keeping with predetermined criteria therefor; and wherein said distributed software architecture media processing layer includes a software manager for initializing, coordinating, and controlling said plurality of discrete software objects embedded in a plurality of digital signal processors on said at least one card.