Patent ID: 7656791
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. An automated method of operating a working copy of a payload processor and a protect copy of the payload processor to achieve aligned data within both the working copy hardware and the protect copy hardware of the payload processor, the method comprising: selecting only input data originating from a single fiber for both the working copy hardware and the protect copy hardware; selecting a size of a circular buffer to correspond to an integer factor of an incoming frame length of the input data for each of the working copy hardware and the protect copy hardware; buffering each input port of the working copy hardware and the protect copy hardware with a corresponding circular buffer; writing an identifiable byte to a fixed location within the circular buffers; and adjusting pointers for retrieving data from the circular buffers such that the identifiable byte at the fixed location is read from each circular buffer at the same time, thereby aligning the data at the outputs of the working copy hardware and the protect copy hardware of the payload processor and aligning the data within devices of different printed circuit cards comprising the payload processor such that a printed circuit card within the payload processor can be hitlessly removed for maintenance, wherein at least buffering, writing, and adjusting are performed by electronic hardware.