Back to results
US 8,284,770 B1Granted
Physical layer switching and network packet switching integrated into a hybrid switching module
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJeffrey W. Levis, Aaron M. Cordes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid switch module configured on a common support structure providing networks the ability to automatically reconfigure point-to-point links, per software controls, to optimize network topology by combining a network switching device with a physical layer switch using switching logic. The hybrid switch module is an integrated unit that can operate at a physical layer, routing signals between dedicated ports, and operate as a packet switch for non-dedicated ports.
Claims20
A hybrid switch module, comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a physical layer switch mounted on the circuit board containing communication paths that are able to be logically reconfigured, the physical layer switch is configured to act like an electronic patch panel, and the physical layer switch contains a plurality of electro-optical transceivers for connection to network nodes;
- a switching device mounted on the circuit board and connected to the physical layer switch;
- and
- a controller mounted on the circuit board and connected to the physical layer switch and connected to the switching device, wherein the controller controls and reconfigures the physical layer switch and the switching device, and the controller is physically separate from and is not part of the physical layer switch.
2 more elements
A hybrid switch module, comprising:
- a support structure that is removable and insertable as a single unit within a slot in an equipment rack or in an electronic device;
- a physical layer switch mounted on the support structure, the physical layer switch including communication paths that are able to be logically reconfigured and a plurality of electro-optical transceivers configured to be connected to a plurality of network nodes, the physical layer switch is configured to act like an electronic patch panel;
- a reconfigurable switching device mounted on the support structure and connected to the physical layer switch by a plurality of switch communication links to receive electrical data signals from the physical layer switch;
- and
- a controller mounted on the support structure and connected to the physical layer switch and connected to the switching device by respective controller communication links, wherein the controller controls and reconfigures the physical layer switch and the switching device using electrical control signals transmitted over the controller communication links, and the controller is physically separate from and is not part of the physical layer switch;
- wherein the physical layer switch, the switching device and the controller are removable and insertable together with the support structure.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.