Multi-rate, multi-protocol, multi-port line interface for a multiservice switching platform

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enabling a line card to support multiple ports, multiple rates, and multiple protocols within an optical network system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a line card that is suitable for incorporation into one of a multi-slot broadband digital cross-connect system or a multiservice provisioning platform includes a first port and a plurality of devices. The first port is arranged to be provisioned to accept an input signal which may be one of a signal of a first protocol and a signal of a second protocol. The plurality of devices being arranged to process the input signal to create an output signal which has a SONET payload. In one embodiment, the signal of the first protocol is an OC-n signal and the signal of the second protocol is a Gigabit Ethernet signal.

1 . A line card, the line card being arranged to be incorporated into one of a multi-slot broadband digital cross-connect system or a multiservice provisioning platform, the line card comprising: 
 at least a first port, the first port being arranged to receive a signal, the signal being one of a plurality of signals, the plurality of signals including an OC- 3  signal and an OC- 12  signal;    a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices being arranged to obtain the signal from the first port and to process the signal to create an STS-48 SONET signal; and    a backplane, the backplane being arranged to receive the STS-48 SONET signal from the plurality of devices.    
     
     
         2 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of signals further includes an OC-48 signal.  
     
     
         3 . The line card of  claim 2  wherein if the signal is the OC-48 signal, the STS- 48  SONET signal includes approximately 48 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-48 signal.  
     
     
         4 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein if the signal is the OC-3 signal, the STS-48 SONET signal includes approximately three STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-3 signal and approximately 45 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC- 3  signal.  
     
     
         5 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein if the signal is the OC-12 signal, the STS-48 SONET signal includes approximately 12 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-12 signal and approximately 36 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC-12 signal.  
     
     
         6 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of signals further includes a Gigabit Ethernet signal.  
     
     
         7 . The line card of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of signals further includes an OC-48 signal.  
     
     
         8 . A line card, the line card being arranged to be incorporated into one of a multi-slot broadband digital cross-connect system or a multiservice provisioning platform, the line card comprising: 
 at least a first port, the first port being arranged to receive a signal, the signal being one of a plurality of signals, the plurality of signals including an OC-3 signal, an OC-12 signal, and an OC-48 signal;    a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices being arranged to obtain the signal from the first port and to process the signal to create a SONET signal; and    a backplane, the backplane being arranged to receive the SONET signal from the plurality of devices.    
     
     
         9 . The line card of  claim 8  wherein the SONET signal includes at least approximately 48 STS-1 channels.  
     
     
         10 . The line card of  claim 9  wherein if the signal is the OC-3 signal, the at least 48 STS-1 channels include approximately three STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-3 signal and at least approximately 45 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC-3 signal.  
     
     
         11 . The line card of  claim 9  wherein if the signal is the OC-12 signal, the at least 48 STS-1 channels include approximately 12 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-12 signal and at least approximately 36 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC-12 signal.  
     
     
         12 . The line card of  claim 9  wherein if the signal is the OC-48 signal, the at least 48 STS-1 channels include approximately 48 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-48 signal.  
     
     
         13 . The line card of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of signals further includes a Gigabit Ethernet signal.  
     
     
         14 . A line card, the line card being arranged to be incorporated into one of a multi-slot broadband digital cross-connect system or a multiservice provisioning platform, the line card comprising: 
 means for receiving a signal, the signal being one of an OC-3 signal, an OC-12 signal, or an OC-48 signal;    means for processing the signal to create an STS-48 SONET signal; and    means for receiving the STS-48 SONET signal from the means for processing the signal.    
     
     
         15 . The line card of  claim 14  wherein if the signal is the OC-3 signal, the STS-48 SONET signal includes approximately three STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-3 signal and approximately 45 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC- 3  signal.  
     
     
         16 . The line card of  claim 14  wherein if the signal is the OC-12 signal, the STS-48 SONET signal includes approximately 12 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-12 signal and approximately 36 STS-1 channels without data associated with the OC-12 signal.  
     
     
         17 . The line card of  claim 14  wherein if the signal is the OC-48 signal, the STS-48 SONET signal includes approximately 48 STS-1 channels with data associated with the OC-48 signal.  
     
     
         18 . The line card of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of signals further includes a Gigabit Ethernet signal.