Patent ID: 6373843
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch system having a switch for exchanging an ATM cell between one of the inputs thereto and one of the outputs therefrom, comprising:a plurality of linking means, each linking means coupled with the switch for applying the ATM cell to a selected one of the inputs to the switch, wherein each of the linking means checks whether or not the ATM cell is synchronized with a cell synchronization signal and activates a synchronization loss (SL) signal when the ATM cell is not synchronized with the cell synchronization signal; administrating means, coupled with each of the linking means, for checking whether or not the SL signal for each of the linking means is activated for a predetermined number of successive ATM cells and for isolating a selected one of the linking means, at which the SL signal is activated for the predetermined number of successive ATM cells, from the switch, wherein the isolated selected linking means stops applying the ATM cells to the switch; and processing means, coupled with the switch and the administrating means, for controlling the switch to receive the ATM cells from a substitution linking means from the remaining linking means when the selected linking means is isolated.