US 7,623,454 B1Granted

Packet-oriented cross-connect system

AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.

InventorMichael K. Bugenhagen

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Abstract

A packet-oriented cross-connect system is provided. Included is a first channel interface configured to receive a first data packet stream and transfer the first data packet during a first set of time slots to a channel connection employing time-division multiplexing. A second channel interface is configured to receive the first data packet stream from the channel connection. A third channel interface is configured to receive a second data packet stream and transfer the second data packet stream during a second set of time slots over the channel connection. Also, a fourth channel interface is configured to receive the second data packet stream from the channel connection. A test device is also included which is coupled to the channel connection and configured to receive and analyze a portion of the first data packet stream and a portion of the second data packet stream.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A packet-oriented cross-connect system, comprising:

a first network port configured to receive first network data from a first network connection that employs a first data protocol, format the first network data into a first data packet stream, and transfer the first data packet stream to a first channel interface;
the first channel interface configured to receive the first data packet stream and transfer the first data packet stream during a first set of time slots over a channel connection employing time-division multiplexing;
a second channel interface configured to receive the first data packet stream from the channel connection;
a second network port configured to receive the first data packet stream from the second channel interface, format the first data packet stream into second network data, and transfer the second network data to a second network connection that employs a second data protocol;
a third network port configured to receive third network data from a third network connection, format the third network data into a second data packet stream, and transfer the second data packet stream to a third channel interface;
the third channel interface configured to receive the second data packet stream and transfer the second data packet stream during a second set of time slots over the channel connection;
a fourth channel interface configured to receive the second data packet stream from the channel connection;
a fourth network port configured to receive the second data packet stream from the fourth channel interface, format the second data packet stream into fourth network data, and transfer the fourth network data to a fourth network connection;
and
a test device coupled to the channel connection and configured to receive and analyze a portion of the first data packet stream and a portion of the second data packet stream.

7 more elements

A method of cross-connecting network connections, comprising:

receiving first network data from a first network connection that employs a first data protocol;
formatting the first network data into a first data packet stream;
transferring the first data packet stream during a first set of time slots over a channel connection employing time-division multiplexing;
receiving the first data packet stream during the first set of time slots from the channel connection;
formatting the first data packet stream into second network data after receiving the first data packet stream from the channel connection;
transferring the second network data to a second network connection that employs a second data protocol;
receiving third network data from a third network connection;
formatting the third network data into a second data packet stream;
transferring the second data packet stream during a second set of time slots over the channel connection;
receiving the second data packet stream from the channel connection;
formatting the second data packet stream into fourth network data after receiving the second data packet stream from the channel connection;
and
transferring the fourth network data to a fourth network connection
analyzing a portion of the first data packet stream and a portion of the second data packet stream by way of a test device coupled to the channel connection.

11 more elements

A system for cross-connecting network connections, comprising:

means for transferring a first data packet stream during a first set of time slots over a channel connection employing time-division multiplexing;
means for receiving the first data packet stream during the first set of time slots from the channel connection;
means for transferring a second data packet stream during a second set of time slots over the channel connection;
means for receiving the second data packet stream from the channel connection;
means for analyzing a portion of the first data packet stream and a portion of the second data packet stream via the channel connection;
means for receiving a second portion of the first data packet stream into the analyzing means;
means for forwarding the second portion of the first data packet stream during the first set of time slots to the second channel interface;
means for receiving first network data from a first network connection;
means for formatting the first network data into the first data packet stream;
means for formatting the first data packet stream into second network data after receiving the first data packet stream from the channel connection;
means for transferring the second network data to a second network connection;
means for receiving third network data from a third network connection;
means for formatting the third network data into the second data packet stream;
means for formatting the second data packet stream into fourth network data after receiving the second data packet stream from the channel connection;
and
means for transferring the fourth network data to a fourth network connection.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.