Time division multiplexing system

Abstract

A switch encapsulates incoming information using a header, and removes the header upon egress. The header is used by both distributed ingress nodes and within a distributed core to facilitate switching. The ingress and egress elements preferably support Ethernet or other protocol providing connectionless media with a stateful connection. Preferred switches include management protocols for discovering which elements are connected, for constructing appropriate connection tables, for designating a master element, and for resolving failures and off-line conditions among the switches. Secure data protocol (SDP), port to port (PTP) protocol, and active/active protection service (AAPS) are all preferably implemented. Systems and methods contemplated herein can advantageously use Strict Ring Topology (SRT), and conf configure the topology automatically. Components of a distributed switching fabric can be geographically separated by at least one kilometer, and in some cases by over 150 kilometers.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . A time division multiplexing system plurality of clusters wherein inter-cluster communication is via dynamic Virtual LAN (VLAN) tunnels.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein inter-cluster communication information is conveyed using protocol data units.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein protocol data units include heart beat element updated message.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the tunnels which are created when a cluster level ACL (Access Control List) detects a matched sequence that has been predefined.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35  wherein each of the clusters comprises a plurality of ingress switching elements, each with a plurality of input and output ports; hardware that adds a routing header to the packets entering the input ports of the plurality of ingress elements, a plurality of egress switching elements, each with a plurality of input and output ports, and wherein each of the switching elements is adapted to use the routing header to pass the packets.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein each of the switching elements is adapted to use the routing header to pass the packets through a backbone that provides active switching among the plurality of ingress and egress elements.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a backbone that carries the packets from one of the ingress switching elements to at least one of the egress switching elements to which the one ingress element is not otherwise directly connected.