Switchless network
AssigneeNorthern Telecom Limited
InventorsSteven James Rhodes, Michael A. Gazier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network shelf is disclosed for connecting a number of devices together. The shelf includes a backplane having multiple device slots. It also includes multiple links connected to each device slot. Each of the device slots is normally connected to at least one of the other device slots through at least one of the links. The limit on the number of devices being connected together in a full mesh configuration is one more than the number of links on a given device slot.
Claims28
A switchless network comprising:
- a backplane having a plurality of device slots;
- and
- a plurality of links each coupled to at least a respective two of said plurality of device slots such that each of said plurality of device slots is connected to at least one other of said plurality of device slots through at least one of said plurality of links;
- a total number of said plurality of device slots coupled together being at most one more than a total number of said plurality of links coupled to a respective one of said plurality of device slots;
- wherein the number of device slots is greater than two and a bandwidth associated with at least a respective one of said links being different than a bandwidth associated with at least another of said plurality of links.
A method of providing communication paths between a plurality of devices selectively connected to a network shelf, said network shelf comprising a backplane having a plurality of device slots and having a plurality of links each coupled to at least a respective two of said plurality of device slots, said method comprising:
- limiting a total number of said plurality of device slots coupled together to at most one more than a total number of said links coupled to one of said plurality of device slots wherein the number of the devices is greater than two;
- providing a unique, dedicated communication link between at least a first one and second one of said plurality of device slots;
- and
- providing a bandwidth that is associated with at least a respective one of said links that is different than a bandwidth that is associated with at least another of said plurality of links.
A switchless network comprising:
- a plurality of devices each having a respective plurality of link interfaces, a total number of said plurality of devices being at most one more than a total number of said plurality of link interfaces of a respective one of said plurality of devices wherein the number of the device slots is greater than two;
- and
- a plurality of communication links statically interconnecting each of said plurality of devices to at least one of a remainder of said plurality of devices, each of said plurality of communication links being coupled between a respective one of said plurality of link interfaces of said each device and a respective one of said plurality of communication links of said at least one of said remainder of said plurality of devices;
- and a bandwidth associated with at least a respective one of said communication links being different than a bandwidth associated with at least another of said plurality of communication links.
A switchless network comprising:
- a backplane having a plurality of device slots;
- and
- a plurality of links each coupled to at least a respective two of said plurality of device slots such that each of said plurality of device slots is connected to at least one other of said plurality of device slots through at least one of said plurality of links;
- a total number of said plurality of device slots coupled together being at most one more than a total number of said plurality of links coupled to a respective one of said plurality of device slots wherein the number of the device slots is greater than two;
- and a priority associated with at least a respective one of said links being greater than a priority associated with at least another of said plurality of links.
A method of providing communication paths between a plurality of devices selectively connected to a network shelf, said network shelf comprising a backplane having a plurality of device slots and having a plurality of links each coupled to at least a respective two of said plurality of device slots, said method comprising:
- limiting a total number of said plurality of device slots coupled together at most one more than a total number of said links coupled to one of said plurality of device slots wherein the number of the device slots is greater than two;
- providing a unique, dedicated communication link between at least a first one and second one of said plurality of device slots;
- and
- providing a priority that is associated with at least a respective one of said links that is greater than a priority that is associated with at least another of said plurality of links.
A switchless network comprising:
- a plurality of devices each having a respective plurality of link interfaces, a total number of said plurality of devices being at most one more than a total number of said plurality of link interfaces of a respective one of said plurality of devices wherein the number of the devices is greater than two;
- and
- a plurality of communication links statically interconnecting each of said plurality of devices to at least one of a remainder of said plurality of devices, each of said plurality of communication links being coupled between a respective one of said plurality of link interfaces of said each device and a respective one of said plurality of communication links of said at least one of said remainder of said plurality of devices;
- and a priority associated with at least a respective one of said communication links being greater than a priority associated with at least another of said plurality of communication links.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.