The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1996
Vadim Antonov, Belmont, CA (US);
Pluris, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention allows a data packet to reach its destination by automatically routing the data packet around failed components by means of a simple and efficient routing algorithms. The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for routing a data packet through a series of ring stations, a series of mid-switch routing elements, and end-switch routing elements. An apparatus according to the invention includes a first series of ring stations and routing elements that are adapted to communicate with each other, and formed in a ring. Each ring is paired with another ring that includes a second series of ring stations and routing elements that are also adapted to communicate with each other as described above to form a second ring, and thus the two rings forming a ring pair. Each routing element, mid-switch and end-switch, is adapted to switch the path of the data packet between the two rings. The present invention further requires vertical links connecting a routing element from one ring pair to another routing element from another ring pair. The vertical links are further adapted to pass the data packet between the ring pairs.