US 4,872,157 A · Architecture and organization of a high performance metropolitan area telecommunications packet network

Abstract

A high capacity metropolitan area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024.times.1024 maximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module. Distributed control of the space division switch permits several million connection and disconnection actions to be performed each second, while the pipelined and parallel operation within the control means permits each of the 256 switching modules to process at least 50,000 transactions per second. The data switching modules chain groups of incoming packets destined for a common outlet of the space division switch so that only one connection in that switch is required for transmitting each group of chained packets from a data switching module to a concentrator. MAN provides security features including a port identification supplied by the data concentrators, and a check that each packet is from an authorized source user, transmitting on a port associated with that user, to an authorized destination user that is in the same group (virtual network) as the source user.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A data switching network for connecting a plurality of inlets to a plurality of outlets, comprising:

circuit switch means for switchably connecting a plurality of inputs and said plurality of outlets;
and
a plurality of data switch means for assembling and chaining data packets from ones of said plurality of inlets for transmission to one of said outlets and for transmitting said chained data packets to one of said inputs of said circuit switch means for connection to said one outlet.

A metropolitan area data switching network for switching data packets, comprising a central hub for connecting a plurality of inlets to a plurality of outlets, said hub comprising:

a circuit switch for switchably connecting a plurality of inputs and said plurality of outlets;
a plurality of data distribution modules for assembling and chaining data streams, said data streams comprising data and voice packets, from ones of said plurality of inlets for transmission to one of said outlets and transmitting said chained data streams to one of said inputs of said circuit switch for connection to said one outlet;
and
means for concentrating data from a plurality of end user systems to a high-speed data link, connected to one of said plurality of data distribution modules, said means for concentrating comprising means for adding port identification data to said transmitted packet;
wherein each of said data distribution modules comprises:
a memory for storing incoming data packets;
a first plurality of microprocessors connected to said plurality of inlets for controlling storage of header information of each of said data packets;
and
a second plurality of microprocessors for processing said header information and chaining the data packets destined for a common outlet;
means, operative under the control of said second plurality of microprocessors, for controlling transmission of said chained data packets destined for said common outlet to one of said inputs;
and
control means for verifying that a source, identified by a source identification, of each data packet is authorized to transmit to a destination of that data packet and for verifying that said port identification is authorized to transmit with said source identification.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Architecture and organization of a high performance metropolitan area telecommunications packet network

Life of this patent

Architecture and organization of a high performance metropolitan area telecommunications packet network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14