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.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2014

Filed:

Nov. 14, 2012
Applicant:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);

Inventors:

Raymond F. Babcock, Stewartville, MN (US);

Ronald L. Billau, Rochester, MN (US);

Matthew A. Butterbaugh, Rochester, MN (US);

Philip E. Grady, Kannapolis, NC (US);

George W. Van Leeuwen, Rochester, MN (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04L 1/00 (2006.01); H04L 12/26 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A fail-to-wire (FTW) module that preserves a primary data path connection from an upstream computer to a downstream computer if there is any kind of failure in a breakout data path to a breakout system. The FTW module provides switches between the incoming data network data and the breakout system such that when the breakout system encounters a failure, the switches are de-activated to bypass the breakout system. The switches in the FTW module are activated by a system health signal from the breakout system. The breakout system can be serviced without interrupting the data network connections since the FTW module can be extracted from the failed breakout system with data network connections intact. The FTW module is preferably a compact modular element that fits within the breakout chassis and is easily inserted and removed from the breakout system during servicing operations.


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