Patent ID: 7644215

Claim:
A method for connecting an externally accessible shared serial port to one of a plurality of target serial ports associated with a plurality of different application cards within a shelf assembly, the method comprising: (a) receiving, from an external device connected to an externally accessible shared serial port, a request for a connection between the externally accessible shared serial port and one of a plurality of target serial ports within a shelf assembly associated with a plurality of different application cards, the connection using an internal shared serial bus; (b) determining, using an internal communication path different from the internal shared serial bus, whether shelf resources are available to connect the externally accessible shared serial port to the requested target serial port, wherein operation of the internal communication path is independent from operation of an operating system on the application card containing the target serial port; and (c) in response to determining that shelf resources are available, connecting the externally accessible shared serial port to the requested target serial port.