EP0977456A2
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EP
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Multiplexing system and control method therefor
Assignee: EULIX NETWORKS Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-06-23
Abstract
Abstract In a multiplexing system for accessing an ATM network, line related functions are functionally separated from higher layer protocol related functions. The line related functions are performed by line interface card (LIF) and the higher layer protocol related functions are performed by universal interface card (UIF). The LIF is physically separated from the UIF to provide the functional separation.
Inventors
- 👤 Rajiv Dighe
- 👤 Subir K. Biswas
- 👤 Vasanthi Thirumalai
- 👤 Kojiro Watanabe
- 👤 Gopalakrishnan Ramamurthy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5603; H04L2012/5609; H04L2012/561; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5626
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
24 words
A multiplexing system for accessing an ATM network
(210), characterized in that line related functions are
functionally separated from higher layer protocol related
functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 1,
characterized by: first interface means (LIF) performing the line
related functions; and second interface means (UIF) performing the higher
layer protocol related functions, wherein the first interface means is physically
separated from the second interface means to provide a functional
separation of the line and higher layer protocol related
functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 2,
characterized in that the first interface means comprises at
least one line interface card (LIF) and the second interface means
comprises at least one universal interface card (UIF), wherein
all UIFs are of same type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the UIF has at least two different kinds
of interfaces, wherein a first interface of a first kind is used
to transfer ATM-based cells and a second interface of a second
kind is used to transfer non-ATM-based data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 3, characterized in that the UIF is capable of balancing processing
load on a traffic-driven basis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that the first interface provides a data path
and the second interface provides a control path to a cell-based
LIF, and that the second interface provides a data path and a
control path to a non-cell-based LIF.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multiplexing system according to any of claims
4 to 6, characterized in that the first interface is a Universal
Test and Operation Interface for ATM (UTOPIA) interface and the
second interface is a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The multiplexing system according to any of claims
2-7, characterized in that the second interface means autoconfigures
the first interface means when the first interface
means is connected to the second interface means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one LIF is capable of interfacing
with one of T1 lines, T3 lines, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line (ADSL) lines, High Speed Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL)
lines, ADSL-lite lines, Ethernet lines, Radio lines, and ATM
lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A multiplexing system for accessing an ATM network
(210), characterized by: an ATM cell bus (102); a plurality of universal interface cards (UIFs)
connected to the ATM cell bus, the UIFs performing higher layer
protocol related functions; a plurality of line interface cards (LIFs)
detachably connected to the plurality of UIFs, the LIFs
performing line related functions, wherein more than one of the
LIFs may be connected to one of the plurality of UIFs; a function server (209) connected to the ATM cell
bus; a cell multiplexer (104) connecting the ATM cell bus
with the ATM network; and an element management system card (103) connected
to the ATM bus, wherein the UIFs and the LIFs are used in
multiplexing and the element management system card controls the
multiplexing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 10,
characterized in that a permanent virtual channel (PVC) is set
up between the element management system card and each of the
UIFs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 10 or 11,
characterized in that the element management system card
comprises a CORBA-compliant interface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multiplexing system according to claim 12,
characterized in that the element management system card
comprises a CORBA-based PVC setup with remote network servers
and databases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a combination of a universal interface card (UIF)
and at least one line interface card (LIF) which are used in
multiplexing, wherein the LIF performs line related functions
and the UIF performs higher layer protocol related functions, a UIF characterized by: interface means for detachably connecting the LIF
thereto; control means for auto-configuring the LIF by
communicating with the LIF through the interface means when the
LIF is plugged into the UIF.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The UIF according to claim 11, wherein the control
means receives from the LIF a set of information including a line
protocol on the LIF, a data path which is one of cell-based path
and non-cell-based path, and a protocol stack which needs to be
downloaded for using the LIF.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control method for a multiplexing system
comprising: at least one line interface card (LIF) performing line
related functions; and at least one universal interface card (UIF) performing
higher layer protocol related functions, wherein the LIF is physically separated from the UIF to
provide a functional separation of the line and higher layer
protocol related functions, the control method characterized by the steps of: a) registering the LIF in the UIF to which the LIF
is connected; and b) downloading configuration information from the
UIF to the LIF to make the LIF operational.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control method according to claim 16, further
comprising the steps of: c) completing activation of a channel to a remote
host at the LIF; d) starting a loopback test between the LIF and the
remote host; and e) collecting statistics information measured at
the LIF.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A control method for a multiplexing system
comprising: at least one line interface card (LIF) performing line
related functions; and at least one universal interface card (UIF) performing
higher layer protocol related functions, wherein the LIF is physically separated from the UIF to
provide a functional separation of the line and higher layer
protocol related functions, the control method characterized by the steps of: a) sending a first message from the LIF to the UIF
at first; and b) sending a second message from the UIF to the LIF
to make the LIF operational, wherein all of the messages have a same format, each
message having a header and contents, the header having an LIF
identifier and message type, the contents having a number of data
fields, exact number of data fields depends on the header.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control method according to claim 18, wherein
the first message is a Hello message conveying the LIF identifier
and enabling the UIF to download appropriate configuration files.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control method according to claim 18 or 19,
wherein the second message is a Configuration message containing
provisioning information which is loaded onto the LIF to set the
LIF and the UIF to be operable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
132 words
The control method according to claim 18, further
comprising the steps of: c) completing activation of a channel to a remote
host at the LIF; d) sending a third message from the LIF to the UIF
on successful completion of the channel activation; e) sending a fourth message from the UIF to the LIF,
wherein the UIF uses the fourth message to request information
of the remote host; and f) sending a fifth message from the LIF to the UIF,
the fifth message conveying the information of the remote host, wherein all of the messages have a same format, each
message having a header and contents, the header having an LIF
identifier and message type, the contents having a number of data
fields, exact number of data fields depends on the header.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control method according to claim 21, wherein
the third message is a line stabilization message, the fourth
message is an identify remote message having no data except line
number, and the fifth message is an identify remote
acknowledgement message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
The control method according to claim 21, further
comprising the steps of: g) sending a sixth message from the UIF to the LIF
to set up a loopback test; h) sending a seventh message from the UIF to the LIF
wherein the UIF requests collected statistics measured by the
LIF; and i) sending an eighth message from the LIF to the UIF
wherein requested statistics information is provided to the UIF.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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