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US 5,499,239 AGranted
Large capacity modular ATM switch
AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited
InventorErnst A. Munter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A large capacity ATM switch is constructed in a matrix of a plurality of modules which are connected by high speed buses. Each module includes an I/O port for external access to the switch. Data are exchanged between I/O ports in trains of continuous ATM cells of any arbitrary number. Prior to transmission of data, a connection between destination and source I/O ports is made by exchanging a connection request and connection grant signal through control buses.
Claims21
A large capacity modular ATM switch for exchanging data in ATM cells among I/O ports, comprising:
- a plurality of switching modules arranged in a logical m.times.n matrix, m and n being positive integers, each switching module having an I/O port, a buffer, bus selector means and a control circuit;
- H data buses separately connecting modules in each separate row of the matrix to send data to all the modules in each row;
- V data buses separately connecting modules in each separate column of the matrix to send data to all the modules in each column;
- H and V control buses connecting modules in rows and columns to exchange control signals among the module control circuits;
- the bus selector means of each module connected to the H and V data buses for selectively receiving data therefrom in response to the control signals on the H and V control buses;
- the buffer connected to both data buses for storing one or more ATM cells in transit between the I/O ports;
- and
- the control circuits for generating the control signals in response to the state of the buffer.
5 more elements
A large capacity modular ATM switch for exchanging data in ATM cells among I/O ports comprising:
- a plurality of switching modules arranged in a logical m.times.n matrix, m and n being positive integers, each switching module having an I/O port, an input and output buffer and an intermediate buffer, H and V bus selector means and a control circuit;
- H data buses, each H data bus connecting modules in each row of the matrix to send data to all the modules in the row;
- V data buses, each V data bus connecting modules in each column of the matrix to send data to all the modules in the column;
- H control buses, each H control bus connecting modules in each row of the matrix;
- V control buses, each V control bus connecting modules in each column of the matrix;
- each of the H and V bus selector means of each module connected to respective H and V data buses for receiving data therefrom in response to control signals on the respective control buses;
- the intermediate buffer connecting respectively between the V bus selector means and H data bus;
- the input buffer of each module sending data to the V data bus, the output buffer of each module receiving data from the H bus selector means which is connected to the H data buses;
- and
- the control circuits for generating the control signals in response to the state of the buffers.
7 more elements
A large capacity modular ATM switch for exchanging data in ATM cells among I/O ports comprising:
- a plurality of switching modules arranged in a logical m.times.n matrix, m and n being positive integers, each switching module having an I/O port, a buffer, bus selector means and a control circuit;
- H data buses separately connecting modules in each separate row of the matrix to send data to all the modules in each row;
- V and W data buses, each separately connecting modules in each separate column of the matrix to send data to all the modules in each column;
- H, V and W control buses connecting modules in rows and columns to exchange control signals among the module control circuits;
- the bus selector means of each module connected to H, V and W data buses for selectively receiving data therefrom in response to the control signals on the H, V and W control buses;
- the buffer connected to one of the data buses for storing one or more ATM cells in transit between the I/O ports;
- and
- the control circuits for generating the control signals in response to the state of the buffer.
5 more elements
A large capacity modular ATM switch for exchanging data in ATM cells among I/O ports comprising:
- a plurality of switching modules arranged in a logical m.times.n matrix, m and n being positive integers, each switching module having an I/O port, an input and output buffer and intermediate buffers, H, V and W bus selector means and a control circuit;
- H data buses, each H data bus connecting modules in each row of the matrix to send data to all the modules in the row;
- V and W data buses, each V or W data bus connecting modules in each column of the matrix to send data to all the modules in the column;
- H control buses, each H control bus connecting modules in each row of the matrix;
- V and W control buses, each V or W control bus connecting modules in each column of the matrix;
- each of the H, V and W bus selector means of each module connected to respective H, V and W data buses for receiving data therefrom in response to control signals on the respective control buses;
- the intermediate buffers connecting between the V bus selector means and H data buses and between the H bus selector means and W data buses;
- the input buffer of each module sending data to the V data buses, the output buffer of each module receiving data from the H bus selector means which is connected to the H data buses;
- and
- the control circuits for generating the control signals in response to the state of the buffer.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.