Patent ID: 7796501
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A chassis with a redundant switch fabric and switch controller module, comprising: a first module comprising a first switch fabric and a first control system, wherein the first switch fabric comprises a first data plane and a first packet plane, and wherein the first control system comprises a first control plane and a first timing plane; and a second module comprising a second switch fabric and a second control system, wherein the second switch fabric comprises a second data plane and a second packet plane, and wherein the second control system comprises a second control plane and a second timing plane; wherein the first module is configured to provide primary control functions and standby switch fabric functions, and the second module is configured to provide primary switch fabric functions and standby control functions; wherein the first data plane and the second data plane are configured to switch time division multiplexed traffic, and wherein the first packet plane and the second packet plane are configured to switch Ethernet traffic; wherein in normal operating conditions the first control plane is active and the second control plane is standby, the first timing plane is active and the second timing plane is standby, the second data plane is active and the first data plane is standby, and both the first packet plane and the second packet plane are active; and wherein the first module and second module comprise arbitration mechanisms configured to provide redundancy in a failure event on one of the first module and the second module.