Robert Lee Nichols

US Patent:

48752061, Oct 17, 1989

Filed:

Mar 31, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/175541

Inventors:

Robert K. Nichols - Glen Ellyn IL
Gary A. Roediger - Downers Grove IL

Assignee:

American Telephone and Telegraph Comopany, AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04Q 1104
H04J 302

US Classification:

370 8515

Abstract:

A high capacity metropolitan area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024. times. 1024 maximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module. Distributed control of the space division switch permits several million connection and disconnection actions to be performed each second, while the pipelined and parallel operation within the control means permits each of the 256 switching modules to process at least 50,000 transactions per second. The data switching modules chain groups of incoming packets destined for a common outlet of the space division switch so that only one connection in that switch is required for transmitting each group of chained packets from a data switching module to a concentrator.

US Patent:

49775820, Dec 11, 1990

Filed:

Mar 31, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/175696

Inventors:

Robert K. Nichols - Glen Ellyn IL
Bruce R. Zelle - Naperville IL

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04L 706

US Classification:

375118

Abstract:

A high capacity metroplita, area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024x1024 maximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module. Distributed control of the space division switch permits several million connection and disconnection actions to be performed each second, while the pipelined and parallel operation within the control means permits each of the 256 switching modules to process at least 50,000 transactions per second. The data switching modules chain groups of incoming packets destined for a common outlet of the space division switch so that only one connection in that switch is required for transmitting each group of chained packets from a data switching module to a concentrator.