Patent ID: 6513092
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A system for providing 1:n protection for common processing units in a multiplexer or switching system having a star bus related architecture and providing one redundant protection common processing unit to protect up to n working common processing units, n being a positive number, the system comprising:a. a pair of first and second dedicated common processing slots (C) for common processing units which are at the hub of star related bus connections, wherein one of the common processing units is the redundant protection common processing unit, and only one of the first and second common processing units is normally online at any time; b. a plurality of tributary interface slots (T) for accommodating a plurality of tributary interface units, wherein the pair of dedicated common processing units have a star related connection to each tributary interface unit; c. at least one universal slot (U) for accommodating either an additional common processing unit or a tributary interface unit, wherein the on-line common processing unit of the dedicated pair routes pulse code modulation (PCM) data over its connection to the slot containing the additional common processing unit; and d. wherein in the event that (i) the working on-line common processing unit of the dedicated pair fails, the protection common processing unit takes over for the failed common processing unit, including all routing of data to additional common processing units; and (ii) if one of the additional common processing units fails, the dedicated protection common processing unit takes over for the failed common processing unit, whereby common processing units can be located in either dedicated slots or in slots which can also be used by tributary interface units, thereby providing 1:n protection regardless of where each common processing unit is located.