Back to results
US 10,320,714 B2Granted
Distributed packet switch having a wireless control plane
AssigneeForce10 Networks, Inc.
InventorJoel R. Goergen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packet network device such as a network switch includes a number of functional cards or chassis modules at least some of which are connected to both an electrical backplane and a wireless backplane. The electrical backplane provides data plane signal paths and the wireless backplane provides control plane signal paths.
Claims20
A backplane system, comprising:
- a backplane circuit board;
- a plurality of line card connectors located on the backplane circuit board;
- at least one switch fabric card connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- at least one route processing manager connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- a plurality of data buses that are provided on the backplane circuit board and that include at least one first data bus extending between a first line card connector of the plurality of line card connectors and the at least one switch fabric card connector, and at least one second data bus extending between a second line card connector of the plurality of line card connectors and the at least one switch fabric card connector, wherein the at least one first data bus is configured to provide for the communication of data plane traffic between a first line card coupled to the first line card connector and at least one switch fabric card coupled to the at least one switch fabric card connector, and the at least one second data bus is configured to provide communication of data plane traffic with a second line card coupled to the second line card connector and the at least one switch fabric card coupled to the at least one switch fabric card connector;
- and
- a wireless backplane that is configured to provide for wireless communication of control plane traffic for the first line card coupled to the first line card connector, the second line card coupled to the second line card connector, the at least one switch fabric card coupled to the at least one switch fabric card connector, and at least one route processing manager coupled to the at least one route processing manager connector.
4 more elements
A networking device, comprising:
- a chassis:
- a backplane circuit board located in the chassis;
- a first line card located in the chassis and connected to the backplane circuit board via a first line card connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- a second line card located in the chassis and connected to the backplane circuit board via a second line card connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- at least one switch fabric card located in the chassis and connected to the backplane circuit board via at least one switch fabric card connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- at least one route processing manager located in the chassis and connected to the backplane circuit board via at least one route processing manager card connector located on the backplane circuit board;
- a plurality of data buses that are included in the backplane circuit board and that extend between the first line card and the at least one switch fabric card, and between the second line card and the at least one switch fabric card, wherein the plurality of data buses, the first line card connector, the at least one switch fabric card connector, and the second line card connector are configured to provide for the communication of data plane traffic between the first line card and the second line card through the at least one switch fabric card;
- and
- a wireless backplane that is located in the chassis and that is configured to provide for wireless communication of control plane traffic for the first line card, the second line card, the at least one switch fabric card, and the at least one route processing manager.
6 more elements
A method for providing communication in a packet network device, comprising:
- receiving, by a first line card connector located on a backplane circuit board, a first line card;
- receiving, by a second line card connector located on a backplane circuit board, a second line card;
- receiving, by at least one switch fabric card connector located on the backplane circuit board, at least one switch fabric card;
- receiving, by at least one route processing manager connector located on the backplane circuit board, at least one route processing manager;
- providing, by a plurality of data buses that are included in the backplane circuit board and that extend between the first line card connector and the at least one switch fabric card connector, and between the second line card connector and the at least one switch fabric card connector, communication of data plane traffic between the first line card and the second line card through the at least one switch fabric card;
- and
- providing, by a wireless backplane, for wireless communication of control plane traffic for the first line card, the second line card, the at least one switch fabric card, and the at least one route processing manager.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.