Calix Networks, Inc.

Caux Networks, Inc.

Andre Tanguay

Jason W Dove

Brian Semple

James W Jones

James Lotz

Ying Zhang

Mike Nelson

A method of creating a signal encoded with a message for transmission from a line unit to a switch unit in a network element of a communication network includes arranging in the message a plurality of contiguous bytes of traffic and arranging in the message a plurality of contiguous nibbles of signaling wherein there is one nibble of signaling for each byte of traffic.

Backplane bus

A point-to-point system for connecting a line card to a switching card using a transmission rate measured in gigabits per second.

Traffic is transported within a system in the form of TDM packets. These packets are generated at source line units and transported from the line units to a switch. The switch routes the packets to appropriate target line units based on information contained within the packet. At the switch, packets from the source line units may be merged. A gather function relies on each of the line units sourcing packets to exclusively drive lines at software-assigned timeslots within the packet. The switch performs a simple OR function of each byte in merging the packet payloads.

Traffic merging system

A network element can be configured for connection to any portion of a communication network: access, transport and core. Moreover, a single network element can be configured to couple subscriber equipment directly to the core portion of the network, thereby permitting the subscriber to bypass the transport portion of the network. Specifically, such a network element can be configured to include a line unit that supports subscriber equipment (also called a &ldquo;subscriber line unit&rdquo;), and also to include a line unit to support a link to the core of the communication network (also called a &ldquo;core line unit&rdquo;). The subscriber line unit and core line unit are both installed in a single chassis, and each unit can be installed in any of a number of slots in the chassis. Moreover, when configured with appropriate line units, such a network element may support traditional circuit-switched telephony services while simultaneously delivering packet-based voice or data services. The network element provides multi-class service over the entire range of the network because it employs a common switch fabric for handling both synchronous and asynchronous traffic over a common bus.

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Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Andre Tanguay