Patent ID: 6266333
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: H04L,H04Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A switching system for communication networks, comprising:(a) a network-independent switch; and(b) a plurality of network-dependent port units connected to the switch, wherein each port unit is adapted to be configured to a corresponding communication network, such that:each port unit receives data signals from its corresponding communication network conforming to a transmission protocol of the corresponding communication network, terminates at least some overhead data in the data signals, and re-formats the data signals into an internal format for transmission to and routing by the switch, wherein the internal format has one or more fields corresponding to terminated overhead data for storing payload data;each port unit receives routed data signals from the switch in the internal format and re-formats the routed data signals for transmission to the corresponding communication network; andthe switching system is configurable such that each communication network corresponding to each different port unit is independent of every other communication network corresponding to every other port unit.