Patent ID: 7171121
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A modular switch comprising: dual optical trunking modules coupled to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a service provider, the dual optical trunking modules including a first optical trunking module and a second optical trunking module; dual optical switch fabric modules coupled to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the dual optical trunking modules, the dual optical switch fabric modules including a first optical switch fabric module and a second optical switch fabric module; and a plurality of subscriber service modules coupled to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the dual optical switch fabric modules and a plurality of subscribers, each of the plurality of subscriber service modules for providing subscriber services to respective ones of the plurality of subscribers; wherein the dual optical trunking modules and the dual optical switch fabric modules provide redundancy by routing optical signals through the first optical trunking module to both the first optical switch fabric module and the second optical switch fabric module and routing signals through the second optical trunking module to both the first optical switch fabric module and the second optical switch fabric module; wherein the first optical trunking module transmits and receives optical signals to and from the service provider in a first physical direction along an optical ring network and the second optical trunking module transmits and receives optical signals to and from the service provider in a second physical direction, opposite the first physical direction, along the optical ring network.