Patent ID: 7304941

Claim:
In a data packet switching system for transmitting data packets comprising at least a data packet identifier, through a switching arrangement comprising at least an active switch card associated to a backup switch card for simultaneously receiving at least a data packet and for transmitting said at least data packet from the active switch card and from the backup switch card to a network adapter device, a switchover system comprising: active and backup storing means for respectively storing at an active and backup data packet address said transmitted at least data packet; switchover detecting means coupled to the active and backup storing means for detecting a switchover event; and control means coupled to the active and backup storing means and to the switchover detecting means for setting the backup storing means when the switchover event is detected, wherein the active and backup storing means further comprises active and backup enqueuing means for respectively enqueuing said at least data packet identifier along with the active and backup data packet address, and the switchover detecting means further comprises means for retrieving the active one of said at least data packet identifier when the switchover event is detected.