Patent ID: 6985503
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. An inverse multiplexer device comprising: an input port for receiving a stream of data packets; a plurality of output ports for connection to outgoing physical links; transmit buffers for preparing outgoing packets for transfer to said output ports; a first expansion port connectable into a parallel ring and capable of receiving packets from said transmit buffers and transferring them through a corresponding second expansion port on an other like inverse multiplexer device to designated outgoing physical links on said other inverse multiplexer device; and a controller for transferring the data packets in a round-robin fashion from said transmit buffers through said output ports or said first expansion pot to a group of outgoing physical links made up of links associated with both said inverse multiplexer device and said other inverse multiplexer device and forming an inverse multiplex group in accordance with an inverse multiplex protocol; and wherein said first expansion port further comprises a master ring controller for permitting said inverse multiplexer device to act as a master and control overall operation of said parallel ring; whereby said inverse multiplexer devices can be cascaded to increase the number of output links that can be accommodated by said inverse multiplex protocol.