Patent ID: 6754217
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface module, in which the ATM interface module performs an ATM interface between a physical layer and an upper layer connected to an ATM network, comprising:a physical layer interface means for converting a signal applied from an external ATM network into an ATM format signal and then outputting the converted ATM signal; an ATM layer processing means for selecting a payload part (SAR-PDU: segmentation and reassembly protocol data unit) by using a header information of an ATM cell among signals applied from the physical layer interface means and outputting the SAR-PDU to a control interface means; and a control interface means for converting the payload part applied from the ATM layer processing means into a format signal which is required for an upper layer service and outputting the converted format signal; wherein the ATM layer processing means comprises: a first memory unit for storing a data which is applied from the control interface means, for sending to the external ATM network; and an ATM processing unit for selecting an ATM cell payload (SAR-PDU) area after selecting a useful ATM cell by using a header information in the ATM cell which is applied from the physical layer interface means and outputting the SAR-PDU to the control interface means, or inserting an ATM cell header information after separating a data (CS-PDU: convergence sublayer protocol data unit) stored in the first memory unit to the SAR-PDU, and outputting the ATM cell which is composed of the SAR-PDU having the ATM cell header information, to the physical layer interface means; wherein the first memory unit comprises: a sending unit having a memory map which is divided into a managing area of managing the ATM cell header area for sending the ATM cell, a state area of notifying a cell sending state, a location designation area of designating a location which the CS-PDU is stored, and a data storage area of storing an actual CS-PDU; a receiving unit having a memory map which is divided into a header information control area of storing a data for selecting a useful cell among the ATM cells transmitted from the physical layer, a managing area of managing a cell state having the useful header, a state area of notifying the received cell processing state and a location designation area of designating a location for storing the received cell payload; and a common unit of processing the ATM cell by the ATM processing unit; and wherein the control interface means comprises: a second memory unit for storing the ATM cell payload (SAR-PDU) applied from the ATM layer processing means; and a control processor for converting a CS-PDU into a U-SDU (user service data unit) after converting the several SAR-PDUs stored in the second memory unit into the CS-PDU format, in which the U-SDU includes a data required from the upper layer service process module or an upper layer service control protocol data, and outputting the U-SDU or for converting the U-SDU applied from the upper layer service process module, into a certain data format (CS-PDU) for processing to the ATM cell in the ATM layer processing means and outputting the CS-PDU to the ATM layer processing means.