System and method for a control services link for a multi-shelf node in a communication switch

A multi-shelf network element for a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a plurality of shelves, each shelf having network interface cards and each network interface card being coupled to a respective inter-shelf interface card;
• a switch fabric coupled to said each respective inter-shelf interface card for switching telecommunications traffic between the network interface cards;
• a connection controller operable to establish connections between the network interface cards though the liner-shelf interface cards and the switch fabric;
• and
• a link coupled to the connection controller, the switch fabric, and the plurality of shelves for transmitting commands from the connection controller to the switch fabric and the plurality of shelves, the link having a plurality of connections providing signalling links for a plurality of categories of communication signals for transmitting the commands, wherein
• said plurality of connections are bundled together in a single, collective span of cable and each connection of said plurality of connections provides an individual category of said plurality of categories of communication signals independently of the other connections of said plurality of connections;
• said single, collective span of cable comprises a first end having a connector adapted to provide connections for each connection of said plurality of connections to said controller and a second end having a second connector adapted to provide connections for each connection of said plurality of connections to said plurality of shelves;
• and
• said first and second connectors have physical profiles which do not allow said first connector to be connected with said plurality of shelves and said second connector with said controller.

A method for distributing information in a multi-shelf network element in a communication network, the multi-shelf network element having a controller, a plurality of shelves providing communication capabilities for said network element and a plurality of control service links (CSLs), each control service link (CSL) of the plurality of CSLs being connected to a respective shelf of the plurality of shelves, each said CSL having a plurality of connections that provides signaling paths for a plurality of categories of communication signals between the controller and a respective shelf of the plurality of shelves, the method comprising:

• transmitting individual categories of said plurality of categories of communication signals over separate connections of said plurality of connections between the controller and each of the plurality of shelves independently of the other connections of said plurality of connections,
• wherein said plurality of connections are bundled together in a single, collective span of cable comprising a first end having a connector adapted to provide connections for each connection of said plurality of connections to said controller and a second end having a second connector adapted to provide connections for each connection of said plurality of connections to said each shelf, and said first and second connectors have physical profiles which do not allow said first connector to be connected with said shelf and said second connector with said controller.