Patent ID: 6370146
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In an expandable telecommunications system, comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes for performing telecommunications switching or other services, said nodes being interconnected by an inter-nodal network, a method of expanding an active inter-nodal network by the inclusion of at least one new node while the inter-nodal network continues to operate essentially uninterrupted, the method including the steps of:(A) establishing said active inter-nodal network by connecting nodes each having an â€œAâ€  I/O port, which has its own transmit and receive coupling, and a â€œBâ€  I/O port, which has its own transmit and receive coupling, and each of said nodes has a normal mode of operation in which packetized information traverses said inter-nodal network through the receive coupling of the â€œAâ€  port, and exit the node by the transmit coupling of the â€œBâ€  port, and said nodes each further having a loop back mode of operation in which one I/O port of each fo said nodes does not transmit or receive packets external to that node, but instead is effectively disconnected from the inter-nodal network, while the other port of each of said nodes functions to both receive and transmit packets using its receive and transmit couplings and an alternate communication path, such that said packetized information continues to travel among the nodes of the inter-nodal network; (B) configuring one of said nodes as a master node capable of sending control messages via the inter-nodal network to other nodes connected to said inter-nodal network, being non-master nodes; (C) connecting in communicating relationship to at least one of said nodes a host; (D) selecting a location along the active inter-nodal network, between two nodes, being first and second neighbor nodes, to insert a at least one new node; (E) preparing the new node for non-disruptive addition to the active inter-nodal network; (F) sending a first message, issued by said host, in response to which the master node begins a first synchronized routine whereby each neighbor node places into loop back mode its I/O port that will be adjacent to the new node when the new node is inserted into said selected location; (G) physically disconnecting said inter-nodal network between said first and second neighbor nodes after said first and second neighbor nodes are operating in loop back mode; (H) incorporating said new node into the inter-nodal network by physically connecting said inter-nodal network between said new node and each of said first and second neighbor nodes; (I) sending an expand network message, issued by said host, addressed to the master node, which, in response thereto, the master node instructs the first and second neighbor nodes to institute a synchronized routine whereby each of said first and second neighbor nodes returns its respective port to open mode at approximately the same time; (J) sending a third message, issued by said host, addressed to said new node, in response to which said new node attempts to verify that it is visible by the master node on the inter-nodal network by sending a node identification message addressed to the master node and waiting for an acknowledgment thereof by the master node; (K) verifying the integrity of the inter-nodal network now including the new node, whereby telecommunications switching among all nodes on the inter-nodal network continues and now includes the new node; and (L) establishing a frame architecture for transmitting information and messages among said plurality of interconnected nodes interconnected by said inter-nodal network, and including within each said frame, at least one packet of information as well as an inter-nodal network control word, said control word for effecting control functions with respect to a node on said inter-nodal network, which either receives the control word or transmits it to another node on said inter-nodal network.