Patent ID: 6529473
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
Distributed-architecture device for switching ATM cells, comprising access means, means for executing the ATM layer function, means for executing the cross-connection of the ATM cells and management means, the whole of the means of the device being distributed between two types of hardware modules, a first type composed of unction modules and a second type composed of two cross-connection and management modules, one operating in an â€œactiveâ€  mode and the other in a â€œpassiveâ€  mode, characterized in that the access means are installed in each junction, the means of executing the ATM layer function are installed in each junction and in each of the two cross-connection and management modules and in that it comprises a supervising bus which links the first and second types of module, so as to ensure rapid and automatic reconfiguration of the device in the event of a fault in one of its constituents, the supervising bus serving to convey, under the control of the management means, signals indicative of the â€œmasterâ€  and â€œslaveâ€  management means as well as a signal indicative of the â€œactiveâ€  cross-connection module, and characterized in that each cross-connection and management module comprises a cross-connector subassembly coupled to the junction modules and to subassemblies for managing the modules of the second type so as to allow a changeover of the operation of the device from the cross-connection and management module currently in use to the other cross-connection and management module when a fault occurs in the cross-connection and management module currently in use.