Other

Ciena Corporation

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Ascend Communications, Inc.

Alcatel-lucent USA Inc.

John Patrick Jones

Raymond Schmidt

Ronald Mark Parker

Thomas Andrew Hoch

Prasasth Reddy Palnati

Andrew A Long

Mahesh N Ganmukhi

P K Chidambaran

Brian Branscomb

John R Jones

Patrick L DeAngelis

Frank K Bradbury

Timothy L Norman

Mehmet Hakan Duymazlar

Michael P Jones

Chris Munford

Douglas MacIntyre

Eric L Reed

Mark Pusateri

Scott Whitney

Michael Paul Demilia

Alan Chin-Luen Chan

Donald W Ives

The present invention provides systems and methods for supporting native TDM and native Packet switching simultaneously in a meshed switching architecture. Specifically with the present invention, the meshed links are common to both TDM and packet traffic, and both types terminate to a common system interface without the need to separate physical resources and infrastructure; the common termination function has access to both the TDM (Time Slot Interchange (TSI)) switching and packet switching elements. Native TDM switching and packet switching operate in concurrently in the mesh over common links, with the personality of the links derived by the card type (attached to the mesh). In this, a given card or slot in a system can communicate in the native format to both packet based cards (slots) or TDM based cards (slots) simultaneously with no preconceived restrictions or limitations on slot or link definition.

Systems and methods for combining time division multiplexed and packet connection in a meshed switching architecture

The present invention provides systems and methods to effectively combine layer one and layer two cross-connects in a hierarchical fashion. The present invention combines layer one and layer two cross-connects between a layer one (L1) line card and a layer two (L2) line card in a transport and aggregation platform. Advantageously, the present invention provides network operators increased flexibility and capability in transport and aggregation networks. Particularly, transport networks tend to contain only layer one capabilities. The present invention makes the introduction of layer two functionality into transport networks practical because an entire physical connection need not be dedicated to all layer one cross-connects or all layer two cross-connects.

Systems and methods for a hierarchical layer one and layer two cross-connect in a transport and aggregation platform

Synchronous timing techniques provide redundant reference frequencies to enable a packet switching system to continuously generate one or more master clock frequencies when an original reference frequency is lost or unavailable.

Methods and devices for synchronizing the timing of logic cards in a packet switching system without data loss

A one-piece support device for cleaning, skinning or filleting fish or game provides a secure support for fish or game. The support includes a sturdy base which attaches rigidly to a generally vertical structure. Vertical prongs extend upward from the base to engage the fish or small game. The device may also include a stabilizing element which extends from the lower portion of the base. The lower portion of the base may include a barbed prong for smaller fish or game. The fish or game is hung from the vertical prongs and is held substantially stationary in a preferred orientation, without twisting, by the stabilizing element and one or more prongs. The fish or game may safely be cleaned, skinned or filleted, using both hands, without worry of the fish or game moving.

Support device for cleaning fish and game animals

Multi-service telecommunication switches which include enhanced component redundancy and which also allow multiple chassis connections to a switching fabric enhance the likelihood that packets transmitted to and from the switch will not be lost due do a particular component failure and also enable chassis stacking in a rack system. Such a multi-service telecommunication switch includes redundant physical layer adapter cards, redundant service cards, redundant timing modules, and redundant switching fabrics. Further, the multi-service telecommunication switch, includes an enhanced data flow distribution (load-balancing) architecture which enables multiple chassis connections to the switching fabrics.

Multi-service telecommunication switch

A method of telecommunication network switch port polling enables very highly channelized ports to be polled. A polling engine reads information from at least one of a plurality of poll registers, and each of the plurality of poll registers is associated with a unique identifier. Depending on the information read from the at least one poll register, the polling engine reads a channel number representing the channel to be polled from a location in channel memory. The polling engine determines the location from the unique identifier associated with the at least one poll register from which the information is read. The polling engine polls channel represented by the read channel number.

Highly channelized port polling in a telecommunications switch

A methodology is provided for fault detection and service restoration in a multiservice switch on a per flow basis. An ingress source transmits the same data over each of two redundant cores. An egress receiver selects on a per flow bass which core to utilize. Bi-directional flows are not necessarily grouped together. The basic approach to fault detection is to assume that the two cores are not in lock step, but that the shelves are continually monitoring link flows for control path data as well as user data. The path monitoring is accomplished using a combination of arbiter and aggregator functions found in the service shelves and core interface cards, respectively. The arbiter transmits link test cells to both cores on a per flow basis, wherein the link test cells traverse and are monitored by respective aggregators to and from each core. When an egress arbiter determines that a flow is bad, it initiates a switch to the alternative source core, from which the flow would continue.

Apparatus and method for flow path based fault detection and service restoration in a packet based switching system

The present invention is a methodology for controlled switchover of unicast and multicast data flows in packet based switching system. In some cases it is advantageous to purposefully support switchover of flows from one path to the other without causing loss of data. This is termed a 'controlled' or 'hitless' switchover. In accordance with the present invention switchover methodology, given that an ingress arbiter device is transmitting to both cores simultaneously, it is required that the flows to both switching cores be synchronized at an aggregator level and that an egress arbiter be given time to cease receiving packets from one Core then switch over to the other Core, and continue receiving packets.

Controlled switchover of unicast and multicast data flows in a packet based switching system

The present invention is a core interface mechanism that permits 1:N type port protection on the core side of the switch such that core bandwidth is not wasted by the direct connection of service cards to the switching core. In an exemplary embodiment, a core interface module supports up to two active service cards and one dedicated protection service card. To provide increased efficiency and lower cost the redundant service card does not strand user bandwidth in the switch core. In an exemplary embodiment, the core interface includes a plurality of core side input and output ports for coupling to the switching core and a plurality of card side input and output ports for coupling to the service cards. A data flow switch function couples between the core side ports and the card side ports. The data flow switch function operates to complete data flow paths between the core side ports and the card side ports. A link failure detector detects a communications failure on a communications link associated with one of the active service cards and alters the data flow switch function such that one or more of said data flow paths associated with one of the active service cards are switched to one of said protection cards. The bandwidth allotment between the service cards and the interface device is generally greater than available bandwidth between the switching core and the interface device, thereby enabling connection of the protection cards without corresponding usage of switching core bandwidth.

Apparatus and method for redundancy of processing modules interfaced to a switching core

A data communications switch and method of operation are presently disclosed enabling flexible, selectable provision of a common timing signal for synchronized external communication through physical layer interfaces with other network devices, synchronized internal communications within the switch, and for uninterrupted synchronization of such communications. Synchronization of external communications is enabled by programmable selection from among plural potential timing references at redundant timing modules (TMs). An active TM provides a primary external synchronization clock; a standby TM provides a redundant timing function. Both TMs access the same references. A state signal indicates which synchronization clock is active. External interfaces derive timing from this distributed clock. Synchronized internal timing is provided by an internal clock and phase-locked loop (PLL) on each TM. The clock/PLL timing signal output is routed to other switch elements, enabling synchronized internal data transfer. Both interconnected TMs actively generate clock signals for external and internal use, enabling seamless timing switchover should conditions warrant a change in TMs.

Timing synchronization and switchover in a network switch

A card cage for mounting printed circuit cards of at least two sizes is disclosed. The card cage includes an insert removably mounted to a mounting bar position between first and second ends of the card cage. The insert extends along a portion of the width of the card cage. When the insert is mounted to the mounting bar, a printed circuit card of a first length may be disposed between the insert and one of the card cage ends. When the insert is removed, a printed circuit card of a second length greater than the first length may be mounted between the first and second ends of the card cage. Plural mounting bars may be located between the respective card cage ends to accommodate printed circuit cards of different lengths.

Card cage accommodating PC cards of different size

An extruded skateboard truck base (11), which has an angled aperture for a cushion (13) on which a hanger (12) rests. A pivot bolt (14) holds hanger (12) to base (11) which allows weight placed on either side of the skateboard (22) to put pressure on cushion (13) thereby shortening the wheelbase on one side and lengthening it on the other, facilitating the turn. A slotted hole (20) in base (11) allows hanger (12) to move up and down on cushion (13) for a smoother ride. The straight down pressure exerted on cushion (13) eliminates the need for any adjusting mechanism.

Skateboard truck

An air purification system comprises a housing, a generally S-shaped duct mounted within the housing, at least one blower mounted within the housing for circulating air through the system, and purification structure for removing contaminants from the air. The system preferably comprises two blowers, a master control switch for activating one of the blowers to circulate air through the filter, and a secondary control switch for activating the other blower and the UVC source to initiate a UVC purification process to further purify the filtered air.

Air purification system

An alignment tool designed for use with flexible cable type screw drivers such as carburetor adjusting tools, comprising a rigid tool which is fixed to the end of a screw driver type handle and shaft, the rigid tube has a spiral shaped slot formed therein so that a flexible cable may be rolled through the slot into the center of the tube.

E-Z liner

A modular infrared space heating device includes an enclosure having an air inlet and an air exhaust. A plurality of open-ended ferrous metal conduits are positioned in the enclosure between the air exhaust and a plurality of infrared lamps. The conduits are supported at only one end on a ferrous metal sheet. Refractive lens means comprising a glass plate having a plurality of convex focussing surfaces equal in number to the conduits is provided between the lamps and the conduits and arranged so that each convex surface focusses infrared radiation from the lamps on a different one of the conduits. A fan is provided in the enclosure for circulating air through the enclosure from the air inlet, over the lamps, through and around the conduits and out the air exhaust.

Growing community of inventors

Westford, MA, United States of America

John Patrick Jones