Nova Patents
EP1527570B1

Communications switching architecture

Abstract

The invention includes, among other things, a system for passing TDM traffic through a packet switch. In one embodiment, the system includes a packet switch that has a plurality of data ports and is capable of routing FSDU packets between the plurality of data ports. A TDM encapsulation circuit process a TDM data flow that is incoming to the switch. A circuit demultiplexer processes the incoming data flow to buffer data associated with different TDM circuits into different buffer locations. A timer monitors the amount of time available to fill the FSDU, and when the time period reaches the frame boundary, an FSDU generator generates an FSDU that is filled with data associated with the TDM circuits. Header information is added for allowing the packet switch to route the generated FSDU to a port associated with the respective TDM circuit.

EP1527570B1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 4

Term

Term ended

Expired 2 May 2023, 3.4 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

17 claims: 3 independent, 14 dependent

  1. 1
    A method of media data switching, comprising the steps of:receiving (405) a plurality of media data units at an ingress port of a packet switch (500);determining (410) a corresponding egress port of the packet switch (500) for each of said plurality of media data units based on the routing information corresponding to each of said plurality of media data units;directing each said plurality of media data units toward said corresponding egress port of the packet switch (500);at each said egress port of the packet switch (500), receiving a second plurality of media data units;and transmitting said second plurality of media data units to complete said media data switching;characterised by : said ingress port of the packet switch (500) being capable of supporting a combination of traffic types including packet type traffic and TDM type traffic, and at the ingress port, said directing each said plurality of media data units comprising reformatting (415, 420) media data units of multiple TDM circuits destined for the same egress port of the packet switch into a fixed size data unit (FSDU), adding a header to the FSDU to create an encapsulated packet, and directing (430) said encapsulated packet toward said corresponding egress port;and at each said egress port of the packet switch (500), said receiving (450) said second plurality of media data units comprises receiving and reformatting (455, 460, 465) said encapsulated packets into said second plurality of media data units.
  2. 2
    The method of Claim 1, wherein at said egress port of the packet switch (500), said reformatting comprises:removing said header from said encapsulated packet;and extracting said second plurality of media data units.
  3. 3
    The method of any preceding Claim, wherein said directing each said encapsulated packet toward said corresponding egress port occurs by the end of a time frame.
  4. 4
    The method of Claim 3, wherein said directing each said encapsulated packet toward said corresponding egress port occurs when each of said encapsulated packet are filled.
  5. 5
    The method of Claim 1, wherein said media data units comprise one of:i) audio data;ii) video data;or iii) television signals in digital form.
  6. 6
    The method of Claim 1, wherein said determining further comprises securely processing said media data units.
  7. 7
    The method of Claim 6, wherein said securely processing further comprises concealing the IP addresses of the transmitting party from the receiving party and concealing the IP addresses of the receiving party from the transmitting party.
  8. 8
    The method of Claim 6, wherein said securely processing further comprises providing CALEA services undetectable to either the transmitting or receiving parties.
  9. 9
    The method of Claim 1, wherein said determining comprises accessing routing information corresponding to each of said plurality of media data units.
  10. 10
    The method of Claim 1, wherein said determining further comprises queuing said media data units using high-granularity, class-based queues to provide protection from Denial of Service attacks.
  11. 11
    The method of Claim 10, wherein said queuing employs a plurality of queues for each class of service.
  12. 12
    The method of Claim 1, wherein said directing occurs in real-time.
  13. 13
    The method of Claim 1, further comprising controlling said media data switching through a single element management system.
  14. 14
    An apparatus (500) for integrated media switching comprising:a plurality of ingress ports (510) each receiving a plurality of media data units;a processor connected, comprising means for: determining a corresponding egress port for each of said plurality of media data units based on the routing information corresponding to each of said plurality of media data units;a plurality of egress ports (510), comprising means for receiving a second plurality of media data units;and means for transmitting said second plurality of media data units to complete said media switching characterised in that: at least one of said ingress ports of the packet switch (500) is capable of supporting a combination of traffic types including packet type traffic and TDM type traffic;said processor further comprises means for reformatting media data units of multiple TDM circuits destined for the same egress port of the packet switch (500) into a fixed size data unit (FSDU), means for adding a header to the FSDU to create an encapsulated packet, means for directing said encapsulated packet toward said corresponding egress port;and said means for receiving said second plurality of media data units comprises means for receiving and reformatting said encapsulated packets into said second plurality of media data units.
  15. 15
    The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said ingress ports, said processor and said egress ports are provided in a single chassis,
  16. 16
    The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said processor further comprises high-granularity, class-based queues of said media data units constituted to provide protection from Denial of Service attacks.
  17. 17
    The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein said ingress ports, said processor and said egress ports are controlled through a single element management system.
Independent claims17