Patent ID: 7428236

Claim:
A service unit for a network element, comprising: a first backplane interface to said network element, said first backplane interface conveying payload data using a first communication protocol, wherein said first backplane interface is communicably coupled to a first star interconnect configuration within said network element, said first star interconnect configuration including a line unit slot; and a second backplane interface to said network element, said second backplane interface conveying payload data using a second communication protocol, wherein said second backplane interface is communicably coupled to a second star interconnect configuration within said network element, said second star interconnect configuration including a switch fabric slot, wherein said line unit slot is communicably coupled as a first hub to said switch fabric slot and said first backplane interface to form the first star interconnection configuration, and wherein said switch fabric slot is communicably coupled as a second hub to said line unit slot and said second backplane interface to form the second star interconnection configuration.