Redback Networks Inc.

Michael McClary

Sharath Narahari

Andrew Tao

David R Stiles

Felix Chow

A method and apparatus for deframing signals is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a plurality of signals at a first clock rate, synchronizing the plurality of signals to a second clock rate, and deframing the plurality of signals.

Method and apparatus for deframing signals

Data is transferred on a first port during a current cycle until a predetermined number of bytes less an overshoot value for the first port has been transferred on the first port. The transfer of data continues on the first port during the current cycle until a complete packet has been transferred on the first port. An overshoot value for the first port is updated based on the number of bytes transferred on the first port. In one embodiment, a pair of ports are sequentially selected from a plurality of pairs of ports. The pair of ports comprises a port connected to a first interface and a port connected to a second interface. Data is transferred on the port connected to the first interface during a current cycle. Data is transferred on the port connected to the second interface during the current cycle.

Method and apparatus for balancing bandwidth among multiple ports of a network element

A method and apparatus for enabling repeated switching of a cross-connect and a timing source in a network element through the use of a phase adjuster. In one embodiment, a traffic card includes an aligner to adjust the occupancy of the data in two ingress FIFOs to synchronize their occupancy. In addition, the traffic card includes a clock control logic, including a phase adjuster, to adjust the phase of clock signals driving the two ingress FIFOs to avoid an underflow or overflow.

Repeating switching of a cross-connect and a timing source in a network element through the use of a phase adjuster

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a storage unit to store data from a data signal. The apparatus also includes control circuitry coupled to the storage unit. The control circuitry is to cause the storage of the data from the data signal into the storage unit at a nominal rate upon determining that the data signal includes a number of errors.

Method and apparatus for the operation of a storage unit in a network element

A method and apparatus for alignment of TDM-based signals for packet transmission using framed and unframed operations are described. In an embodiment, a line card in a network element includes a deframer unit that receives a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) signal. The TDM signal includes a payload and overhead data. The deframer generates frame alignment data based on the overhead data. The line card also includes a packet engine unit coupled to the deframer unit. The packet engine unit receives the payload, the overhead data and the frame alignment data and generates a number of packet engine packets. The packet engine packets represent a frame within the TDM signal such that the packet engine packets include the payload, the overhead data and the frame alignment data. Additionally, the line card includes packet processor coupled to the deframer unit. The packet processor receives the packet engine packets and generates network packets based on the packet engine packets.

Alignment of TDM-based signals for packet transmission using framed and unframed operations

A method and apparatus for simultaneously sync hunting signals is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises initializing a first and second subset of a set of per-alignment state machines, receiving a first and second signal, and simultaneously sync hunting the first signal with the first subset of the set of per-alignment state machines and the second signal with the second subset of the set of per-alignment state machines.

Method and apparatus for simultaneously sync hunting signals

A method and apparatus for sync hunting signals is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a signal and synchronization hunting concurrently for a first and second frame alignment pattern for a first and second alignment candidates.

Method and apparatus for sync hunting signals

A method and apparatus for performing bit stuffing operations for transmission signals are described. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving data for a number of channels of a signal. The method also includes recursively processing the data for the number of channels in an order. The processing of a channel of the number of channels includes retrieving a previous state for the channel upon determining that a timeslot for the channel is being processed. The previous state includes a history of values of a depth of a First In First Out (FIFO) for the channel. Moreover, the processing of the channel of the number of channels within the signal includes determining whether to make a bit stuffing decision for the channel upon determining whether the timeslot is associated with a bit stuffing opportunity for the channel. The bit stuffing decision is based on a current value and the history of the values of the depth of the FIFO for the channel. The method also includes updating a current state for the channel of the number of channels. Moreover, the current state for the channel of the number of channels within the signal is stored as the previous state for the channel.

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Newark, CA, United States of America

Michael McClary