Switching device interfaces

Abstract

A device is switched from a first physical interface on the device to a second physical interface on the device based on information in an interface redundancy group. The information in the interface redundancy group identifies the first physical interface as a primary interface for the device and the second physical interface as a secondary interface for the device.

1 - 94 . (canceled)  
     
     
         95 . A method of switching between physical interfaces on a device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 detecting an event at a first physical interface on the device;    switching, in response to the event, from the first physical interface to a second physical interface on the device based on information in an interface redundancy group;    wherein the information in the interface redundancy group identifies the first physical interface as a primary interface for the device and the second physical interface as a secondary interface for the device.    
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the event comprises a failure of the first physical interface.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the first physical interface is associated with a driver and a signaling stack, and the failure of the first physical interface comprises a failure of one of the driver or the signaling stack.  
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , further comprising monitoring the driver and the signaling stack in order to detect a failure of one of the driver or the signaling stack.  
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the event comprises receipt of a slot failure at the first physical interface.  
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the first and second physical interfaces comprise asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) physical interfaces.  
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring availability of the first physical interface; and    switching from the second physical interface to the first physical interface once the first physical interface becomes available.    
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the switching is performed automatically in response to the first physical interface becoming available.  
     
     
         103 . A method of preferentially switching between prioritized physical interfaces on a single device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 designating a first physical interface on the device as a high priority physical interface;    monitoring availability of the high priority physical interface; and    switching from a second physical interface on the device to the high priority physical interface once the high priority physical interface becomes available.    
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the switching is performed automatically in response to the high priority physical interface becoming available.  
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising the steps of: 
 designating a the second physical interface on the device as a moderate priority physical interface;    monitoring availability of the moderate priority physical interface; and    switching from a third physical interface on the device to either the high priority physical interface once the high priority physical interface becomes available or the moderate priority physical interface once the moderate priority physical interface becomes available.    
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the first and second physical interfaces comprise asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) physical interfaces.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the first physical interface is defined as the primary interface for the device.  
     
     
         108 . An apparatus which preferentially switches between prioritized physical interfaces, the apparatus comprising: 
 plural physical interfaces; and    a processor which executes instructions to: 
 designate a first physical interface on the apparatus as a high priority physical interface;  
 monitor availability of the high priority physical interface; and  
 switch from a second physical interface on the device to the high priority physical interface once the high priority physical interface becomes available.  
   
     
     
         109 . The apparatus of  claim 108 , wherein the switch is performed automatically in response to the high priority physical interface becoming available.  
     
     
         110 . The apparatus of  claim 108 , wherein the processor further executes instructions to: 
 designate the second physical interface on the device as a moderate priority physical interface;    monitor availability of the moderate priority physical interface; and    switch from a third physical interface on the device to either the high priority physical interface once the high priority physical interface becomes available or the moderate priority physical interface once the moderate priority physical interface becomes available.    
     
     
         111 . The apparatus of  claim 108 , wherein the first and second physical interfaces comprise asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) physical interfaces.  
     
     
         112 . The apparatus of  claim 108 , wherein the first physical interface is defined as the primary interface for the device.