Patent ID: 6125116
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A flexible programmable multiplexer having line related functions functionally separated from higher layer protocol related functions, said flexible programmable multiplexer comprising at least one line interface card and at least one universal interface card, said functional separation being done by physically separating said at least one line interface card (LIF) from said at least one universal interface card (UIF) wherein said line interface card (LIF) performs said line related functions and said universal interface card performs said higher level protocol related functions, wherein said UIF communicates with said LIF using a plurality of messages wherein all of said plurality of messages have a same format, said message having a header and contents, said header having an LIF identifier and message type, said contents having a number of data fields, exact number of data fields depends on the header,wherein said LIF identifier further has a physical identifier and a protocol identifier, wherein said physical identifier is ADSL, ADSL-lite, HDSL-2, VDSL, T1, T3, Ethernet or Radio cards, wherein said protocol identifier specifies whether data path is one of cell-based and frame-based, and said protocol identifier having a line-specific sub identifier.