Apparatus and method for restoring cell storage regions in an ATM switch and method therefor

A method for restoring the cell data storage regions of a memory in an ATM switch system, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a common memory, an address checker, address multiplexer and controller for checking an address memory to replace erroneous addresses with valid addresses of said common memory;
• using said address checker to check whether multiplexed read addresses are valid during operation of a timer for said controller;
• writing to corresponding storage regions of said address memory using valid addresses when the multiplexed read addresses are valid and replacing erroneous addresses with valid addresses when said multiplexed read addresses are determined to be erroneous without deleting data, resetting the ATM switch, losing an address in memory or reinitializing the ATM switch;
• sequentially checking addresses of said address memory upon termination of said timer;
• and
• replacing erroneous addresses detected while performing said step of sequentially checking with valid addresses.

An apparatus for restoring erroneously addressed cells in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, said apparatus comprising:

• a common memory;
• an address memory storing all addresses of said common memory in an erroneous state and selectively converting said addresses into valid addresses according to a first address signal from an address checker;
• a controller checking said address memory at predetermined intervals to replace erroneous addresses with valid addresses without deleting data, resetting the ATM network, losing an address in memory or reinitializing the ATM network;
• and
• an address multiplexer generating an idle address to an idle address pool according to a second address signal and an address restored signal.