Patent ID: 8085655

Claim:
A router, comprising: a primary line interface unit to couple to one or more communication lines from a network; a primary conversion subsystem comprising a DS0 cross-connect switch, one or more framers and one or more modem modules to convert data received from the communication lines into packets; a primary cross-connect switch coupled between the primary line interface unit and the primary conversion subsystem, the primary cross-connect switch configured to: re-direct data traffic to a secondary conversion subsystem responsive to a failure of the primary conversion subsystem; and upon detection of a failure in the primary line interface unit, disconnect a communication line from the primary line interface unit and receive the data traffic via a secondary cross-connect switch configured to receive the data traffic from a secondary line interface unit, wherein the primary line interface unit is disconnected responsive to the secondary line interface unit closing a relay in response to the failure of the primary line interface unit; wherein the primary line interface unit, primary conversion subsystem and primary cross-connect switch reside on a first feature card; a monitor to detect failures associated with the primary line interface unit, the DS0 cross-connect switch, the one or more framers or the one or more modem modules, or combinations thereof; and a central controller to automatically switch out the primary cross-connect switch responsive to the detected failure.