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US 6,252,878 B1Granted
Switched architecture access server
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsRobert H. Locklear, Jr., Craig S. Cantrell, Kip R. McClanahan, William K. Brewer, Anthony J. P. Carew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication system includes an access server that communicates information between a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN). The access server includes a WAN interface, a switch fabric, a number of route processors, and a LAN interface. The switch fabric directs information from the WAN interface to a selected route processor based on its loading characteristics.
Claims53
A communication system, comprising:
- a communication device;
- a communication server coupled to the communication device using a subscriber line that forms a local loop between the communication device and the communication server;
- and
- anaccess server coupled to the communication server using a data network, the access server comprising a switch fabric coupled to a plurality of route processors, wherein the access server is operable to receive information associated with a session from the communication device, to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's loading characteristics, and to communicate the information associated with the session to the selected route processor using the switch fabric.
1 more element
An access server, comprising:
- a first network interface to receive information associated with a session;
- a plurality of route processors, each route processor having a loading characteristic indicating its level of activity;
- and
- a switch fabric having a first port and a plurality of second ports, the first port of the switch fabric coupled to the first network interface, each second port of the switch fabric coupled to an associated route processor, the switch fabric operable to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's loading characteristics and to communicate the information associated with the session from the first network interface to the selected route processor.
1 more element
A method for communicating information associated with a session, comprising:
- receiving a message indicating the initiation of a session;
- determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- and
- switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric.
2 more elements
A communication system, comprising:
- a communication device;
- a communication server coupled to the communication device using a subscriber line that forms a local loop between the communication device and the communication server;
- and
- an access server coupled to the communication server using a data network, the access server comprising a switch fabric coupled to a plurality of route processors, wherein the access server is operable to receive information associated with a session from the communication device, to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's loading characteristics, and to communicate the information associated with the session to the selected route processor using the switch fabric;
- wherein the communication device and the communication server communicate via the local loop using XDSL communication techniques.
2 more elements
A communication system, comprising:
- a communication device;
- a communication server coupled to the communication device using a subscriber line that forms a local loop between the communication device and the communication server;
- and
- an access server coupled to the communication server using a data network, the access server comprising a switch fabric coupled to a plurality of route processors, wherein the access server is operable to receive information associated with a session from the communication device, to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's packet rate, and to communicate the information associated with the session to the selected route processor using the switch fabric.
1 more element
An access server, comprising:
- a first network interface to receive information associated with a session;
- a plurality of route processors, each route processor having a loading characteristic indicating its level of activity;
- and
- a switch fabric having a first port and a plurality of second ports, the first port of the switch fabric coupled to the first network interface, each second port of the switch fabric coupled to an associated route processor, the switch fabric operable to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's packet rate and to communicate the information associated with the session from the first network interface to the selected route processor.
1 more element
An access server, comprising:
- a first network interface to receive information associated with a session;
- a plurality of route processors, each route processor having a loading characteristic indicating its level of activity;
- and
- a switch fabric having a first port and a plurality of second ports, the first port of the switch fabric coupled to the first network interface, each second port of the switch fabric coupled to an associated route processor, the switch fabric operable to select one of the route processors for the session based on the route processor's loading characteristics and to communicate the information associated with the session from the first network interface to the selected route processor;
- wherein the selected route processor converts information associated with the session from an asynchronous transfer mode protocol to an Ethernet protocol.
2 more elements
A method for communicating information associated with a session, comprising:
- receiving a message indicating the initiation of a session;
- determining a packet rate of at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the packet rate;
- and
- switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric.
2 more elements
A method for communicating information associated with a session, comprising:
- receiving a message indicating the initiation of a session;
- determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric;
- and
- converting the message from an asynchronous transfer mode protocol into an Ethernet protocol at the selected route processor.
3 more elements
A method for communicating information associated with a session, comprising:
- receiving a message indicating the initiation of a session, the message comprising an address;
- determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric;
- and
- switching a plurality of additional messages having the address to the selected route processor.
3 more elements
A method for communicating information associated with a session, comprising:
- receiving a message indicating the initiation of a session;
- determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- and
- switching the message to the selected route processor using an asynchronous transfer mode switch fabric.
2 more elements
Access server software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:
- receiving a message indicating an initiation of a session;
- determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- and
- switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric.
2 more elements
An access server, comprising:
- means for receiving a message indicating an initiation of a session;
- means for determining loading characteristics on at least one of a plurality of route processors;
- means for selecting a route processor for the session based on the loading characteristics;
- and
- means for switching the message to the selected route processor using a switch fabric.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.