Redback Networks Inc.

Ericsson Ab

Lawrence Ong

James Chun Pang

David R Stiles

Siegfried Luft

Ning He

A ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables. According to one embodiment of the invention, a single network element includes a full TDM cross-connect and a multiple ring unit. The full TDM cross-connect is coupled to very line card slot in the single network element with the same amount of bandwidth connection. In addition, the full TDM cross-connect is programmable on an STS-1 basis. The multiple ring unit allows for the simultaneous support of multiple TDM rings.

Ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables

A ring network element and the ring network architectures it enables. According to one embodiment of the invention, a single network element includes a full TDM cross-connect and a multiple ring unit. The full TDM cross-connect is coupled to every line card slot in the single network element with the same amount of bandwidth connection. In addition, the full TDM cross-connect is programmable on an STS-1 basis. The multiple ring unit allows for the simultaneous support of multiple TDM rings.

In one embodiment, a network element is to be coupled to a first and second span of a number of spans that interconnect a set of network elements to form a ring network. In addition, each of the spans has two sub-spans on which traffic travels in opposite directions on a number of channels that circumvent the ring. Additionally, the channels on each sub-span include working channels and protecting channels. Furthermore, the network element includes a traffic handler to reprogram, responsive to protection switches and un-switches, the connection configuration on the protecting channels of the sub-spans of the first and second spans that provide traffic to the network element.

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Coquitlam, Canada

Lawrence Ong