Convedia Corporation

Radisys Canada Inc.

Andrew M Fussell

Paul Robert Russell

A media server for use in networks where media are transmitted in packet form comprises at least one card shelf containing at least one bus controller card, at least one other card such as a media processor card, and a backplane. The backplane includes a media bus group. Each packet has a routing header added to it. The data is optionally sent over a single media bus to a single card, or to a plurality of different cards. Framing information and clock pulse strings are passed to each card over the backplane. Each card is assigned an address, so that data sent from each card has a source address which is identified each time that card wishes to send data elsewhere. Also, data that is being addressed to each card will include the respective destination address of that card in its routing header. A failed card or bus can be sensed and isolated by the bus controller card, and packets will continue to be transmitted to the remaining cards over the remaining buses. In the case where a redundant bus controller is present, the redundant bus controller can detect errors, and take the active bus controller card out of service, and then become the active bus controller itself.

Backplane architecture for a data server

A data server for use in networks where media data are transmitted in packet form comprises at least one card shelf containing at least a bus controller card, a plurality of media processor cards, and a backplane. The backplane has a plurality of media buses, which carry data in packet form among the cards installed on the shelf. Each card has at least one bidirectional port with its own unique identity, and each bidirectional port outputs flow control information as to whether that port can or cannot accept packets of data that are intended to be sent to it, as well as transmit requests to transmit packets of data from that port. Each card outputs flow control information for each bus. A bus arbiter reviews each request to transmit and each flow control message, and grants requests to transmit media data packets only when the intended destination address is free to receive a media data packet over a free bus. Priority may be assigned to each data packet; and a processing algorithm in the bus arbiter determines the order of processing requests to transmit packets of data, and balances the priorities of ports and cards, and their respective requests.

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Vancouver, Canada

Andrew M Fussell