Architecture for a modular communications switching system

A modular communications system comprising:

• a first switch for switching individual channels of payload data between a first switch input and a first switch output, each channel having a fixed bandwidth;
• a second switch for switching payload data in groups of channels, between a second switch input and a second switch output, each group of channels provided to said second switch input from a link, and each group of channels comprising an integer number of at least two individual channels of payload data;
• a third switch for switching payload data in groups of channels between a third switch input and a third switch output;
• said second switch output interconnected with said first switch input, to provide payload data from said second switch to said first switch;
• said first switch output interconnected with said third switch input, to provide payload data from said first switch to said third switch;
• a plurality of resource modules each connected with at least one link to said second switch to provide payload data to said second switch, and to said third switch to receive payload data from said third switch
• at least one processor in communication with said second switch and said third switch to select groups of channels switched between said second switch input and said second switch output, and to select groups of channels switched between said third switch input and said third switch output.

A modular communications system comprising:

• a control module;
• a plurality of resource modules, each resource module for at least one of
• i) receipt of payload data provided to said system;
• and
• ii) manipulation of received payload data;
• a plurality of resource module links, one link connecting each resource module to said control module;
• said control module comprising a switch for switching payload data between said plurality of resource modules;
• first means for passing a configured bandwidth of payload data from each of said resource modules to said switch;
• second means for passing a configured bandwidth of payload data from said switch to each of said resource modules;
• at least one processor in communication with said first and second means. to configure said first means to pass said configured bandwidth of payload data from each of said resource modules to said switch, and said second means to pass said configured bandwidth of payload data from said switch to each of said resource modules.

A modular communications system comprising:

• first means for switching individual channels of payload data between a first input and first output, each channel having a fixed bandwidth;
• second means for switching channels of payload data in groups, between a second input and a second output, each group provided to said second input from one of a plurality of links and comprising an integer number of individual channels of payload data;
• third means for switching channels of payload data in groups, between a third input and a third output;
• said second output interconnected with said first input, to provide payload data from said second means for switching to said first means for switching;
• said first output interconnected with said third input, to provide payload data from said first means for switching to said third means for switching;
• a plurality of resource modules each connected with at least one of said links to said second means for switching to provide payload data to said second means for switching, and to said third means for switching to receive payload data from said third means for switching
• at least one processor in communication with said second means for switching and said third means for switching to configure said second means for switching to switch selected groups of payload data between said second input to said second output, and to configure said third means for switching to switch selected groups of payload data between said third input to said third output.

A method of switching data between a plurality of active and redundant resource modules in a communications system comprising a first, second and third switch, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing groups of channels of payload data from said active and redundant resource modules to said second switch;
• b. at said second switch, switching groups of channels of payload data Itoni active resource modules t o said first switch;
• c. at said first switch, switching individual channels of payload data at said first switch to said third switch;
• d. at said third switch, switching groups of payload data including payload data provided by said first switch, to said active and redundant resource modules, each group comprising an integer number of at least two individual channels of payload data.

A modular communications system comprising:

• a control module;
• a plurality of resource modules, each resource module for at least one of
• i) receipt of payload data provided to said system;
• and
• ii) manipulation of received payload data;
• a plurality of resource module links, one link connecting each resource module to said control module;
• said control module comprising:
• a switch for switching payload data between said plurality of resource modules;
• a bandwidth allocator comprising a bandwidth selector and a bandwidth distributor each connected to said switch and to said resource module links;
• said bandwidth selector to pass a selected bandwidth of payload data from each of said resource modules to said switch;
• and
• said bandwidth distributor to pass a selected bandwidth of payload data from said switch to each of said resource modules;
• at least one processor in communication with said bandwidth selector and said bandwidth distributor, to configure said bandwidth selector to pass said selected bandwidth of payload data from each of said resource modules to said switch and to configure said bandwidth distributor to pass said selected bandwidth of payload data from said switch to each of said resource modules.