Patent ID: 7952992
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: at least one Rear Transmission Module (RTM); a midplane bus in communication with said at least one RTM; a plurality of Trunk Interface Modules (TPMs) in communication with said midplane bus, wherein at least two of said TPMs are in bi-directional communication with a single RTM via said midplane bus, wherein a first one of said at least two TPMs in bi-directional communication with a single RTM comprises an active TPM, wherein a second one of said at least two TPMs in bi-directional communication with a single RTM comprises a standby TPM, wherein said midplane bus includes a primary bus providing a communication path between said RTM and said active TPM and wherein said midplane bus further includes a backup bus providing a communication path between said RTM and said standby TPM, wherein said RTM signaling is broadcast on said backup bus allowing said standby TPM to snoop the signaling in order to provide redundancy for said active TPM; and a supervisor in communication with said plurality of TPMs, wherein said supervisor maintains synchronization between said active TPM and said standby TPM such that when said active TPM fails, said standby TPM takes over processing for the failed TPM.