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:
Apr. 04, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2000
Corey Simons, Waltham, MA (US);
Peter B. Everdell, Littleton, MA (US);
Brian Branscomb, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Daniel I. Westerberg, Burlington, MA (US);
Corey Simons, Waltham, MA (US);
Peter B. Everdell, Littleton, MA (US);
Brian Branscomb, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Daniel I. Westerberg, Burlington, MA (US);
Ciena Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a network device that fully utilizes the available space in a standard telco rack through the use of multiple mid-planes. Full utilization of available space allows a high switching capacity network device including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and upper layer switch/router subsystems to be fit in one telco rack. Inter-mid-plane connections may be provided by connecting switch fabric cards and/or control processor cards to each of the mid-planes. Providing a multi-layer network device in one telco rack allows for intelligent layer 1 switching (for example, dynamic network connection set up), allows for one network management system to control both layer 1 and upper layer networks and eliminates grooming fees. Compared with separate layer 1 and upper layer network devices or a multi-layer network device occupying multiple telco racks, a single network device saves valuable telco site space and reduces expenses by sharing overhead such as the chassis, power and cooling.