System and method for ensuring operations of redundant signal paths in a communication system
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsRichard Marion Czerwiec, Richard Roger Rzonca, Marlin V. Simmering, Geert Van Wonterghem, Jan De Groote
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for enhancing reliability in a communication system. In the system and method, redundant signal paths are continuously tested to determine if any faults are present while the operating signal paths are in use. If any faults are present in the redundant signal paths, they can be addressed while the operating circuits are still in use. This minimizes the chance that a switch from an operating signal path to a redundant signal path because of a fault in the operating circuit will result in downtime.
Claims19
A method for a system including a plurality of line cards each having at least one encoder and each for receiving a first downstream signal and encoding to generate a respective subscriber downstream signal for sending to a respective subscriber, the method comprising:
- receiving, in each line card, the first downstream signal from a first source over a first downstream signal path;
- sending, from at least one line card, a first upstream signal to the first source over a first upstream path;
- testing a second downstream path from a second source to the at least one line cards and a second upstream path from the at least one line cards to the second source;
- and
- if a failure is detected along the first downstream signal path or the first upstream signal path and a failure is not detected along the second downstream signal path or the second upstream signal path, a second receiving step of receiving the first downstream signal from the second source,
- wherein a multiplexing process is used to enable the line cards to share the first upstream signal path and the same multiplexing process is used to enable the line cards to share the second upstream signal path, so that the testing of the second upstream path occurs in synchronism with the sending of the first upstream signal by each respective line cards.
A system for operating with a network, the system comprising:
- a first circuit card for receiving from the network to generate a first signal;
- a second circuit card for receiving from the network to generate the first signal;
- a plurality of line cards;
- a first upstream signal path, the first upstream signal path being for sending from the line cards to the first circuit card;
- a second upstream signal path, the second upstream signal path being for sending from the line cards to the second circuit card;
- wherein each line card includes
- a multiplexor that generates a multiplexor output responsive either to the first signal from the first circuit card or the first signal from the second circuit card,
- an encoder that:
- encodes the multiplexor output to generate a respective second signal for sending to a respective subscriber,
- a sender that sends on the second upstream signal path, at a time when the multiplexor is responsive to the first signal from the first circuit card, thereby testing the second upstream signal path.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of line cards each having at least one encoder and each for receiving a first downstream signal and encoding to generate a respective subscriber signal for sending to a respective subscriber;
- means for receiving, in each line card, the first downstream signal from a first source over a first downstream signal path,
- means for sending, from at least one line card, a first upstream signal to the first source over a first upstream path;
- means for testing a second downstream path from a second source to the at least one line cards and a second upstream path from the at least one line cards to the second source;
- means for receiving the first downstream signal from the second source if a failure is detected along the first downstream signal path or the first upstream signal path and a failure is not detected along the second downstream signal path or the second upstream signal path;
- and
- means for multiplexing so that the line cards share the first upstream signal path and share the second upstream signal path, so that the testing of the second upstream path occurs in synchronism with the sending of the first upstream signal by each respective line cards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.