Patent ID: 7349431
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An allocating device for dynamically allocating bandwidth, comprising: a plurality of personality module cards, each of said personality module cards having an independent bandwidth requirement, wherein at least two of said personality module cards have different bandwidth requirements; an allocation module connected to said personality module cards by a plurality of transmission channels, wherein said allocation module assigns incremental bandwidths to said personality module cards based upon the bandwidth requirements of said personality module cards; a plurality of plug-in physical slots that removably receive different personality module cards, wherein each of said plug-in physical slots is connected to said allocation module by a separate transmission channel in said plurality of transmission channels; a microprocessor connected to said allocation module by a first transmission line that programs said allocation module to assign a bandwidth corresponding to the bandwidth requirement of said personality modules; a multiplexer connected to said allocation module by a second transmission line; and an interface circuit between the plurality of personality module cards and the allocation module, the interface circuit controlling the direction of data flow between the multiplexer and the plurality of personality module cards, wherein the interface circuit comprises a plurality of bits hardwired to the plug-in physical slots, and wherein each plug-in physical slot has both dedicated data bits and data bits that are shared between neighboring plug-in physical slots; wherein allocation of bandwidth to said personality module cards is dynamic with respect to both changes in types of personality module cards in said plurality of plug-in physical slots and changes in bandwidth requirements of each personality module cards at different times, and each personality module card has capability to reside in any plug-in physical slot and in any combination.