Method for Defining the Physical Configuration of a Communication System

Abstract

A method is provided for automatically generating code to define and control a system of connected hardware elements. The method comprises: accepting a system configuration macro with sub-macros for system elements, subsystem elements, and connections there between; accepting a plurality of tables with a plurality of system element behaviors, a plurality of subsystem element behaviors, and a plurality of connection options; defining the system of connected elements in response to selecting sub-macros; defining the physical links between the system elements and the behavior of the system and subsystem elements in response to populating the selected sub-macro parameters; expanding the selected sub-macros; generating executable code; and, accessing the tables in response to parameters in the executable code. Advantageously, the form and function of the system can be defined with programming, or writing application specific code.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for automatically generating code to define and control a system of connected elements, the instructions comprising:
 supplying a system configuration macro with sub-macros for system elements, subsystem elements embedded in the system elements, and connections there between;   supplying a plurality of tables with a plurality of system element behaviors, a plurality of subsystem element behaviors, and a plurality of connection options;   defining a system of connected elements in response to receiving instructions selecting sub-macros;   defining the physical links between the system elements and the behavior of the system and subsystem elements in response to populating the selected sub-macro parameters;   expanding the selected sub-macros;   automatically generating executable code;   accessing the tables in response to parameters in the executable code; and,   storing the tables in a tangible memory medium.   
     
     
         27 . The instructions of  claim 26  further comprising:
 populating parameters in the selected sub-macros; and,   elaborating the executable code.   
     
     
         28 . The instructions of  claim 27  wherein elaborating the executable code includes differentiating the executable code into code sections corresponding to system and subsystem elements; and,
 wherein storing the tables includes loading accessed tables into corresponding subsystem memories.   
     
     
         29 . The instructions of  claim 28  further comprising:
 following the elaboration of the executable code, monitoring the system performance;   comparing the system performance to a standard;   in response to sub-standard system performance:
 automatically repopulating selected parameters in the selected sub-macros; 
 instantiating new executable code; and, 
 storing accessed indexing tables in response to the repopulated parameters. 
   
     
     
         30 . The instructions of  claim 26  wherein supplying a system configuration macro with sub-macros includes supplying a system configuration macro with sub-macros for switch card and port card system elements, integrated circuit (chip) subsystem elements on the cards, and connections there between; and,
 wherein automatically generating executable code includes automatically generating code to define and control a system of cards connected in a switch fabric network.   
     
     
         31 . A graphical user interface (GUI) for defining the physical configuration of a network, the GUI comprising:
 a first user interface for accessing a system configuration macro text file with selectable sub-macros for system elements, subsystem elements on the cards, and connections there between;   a second user interface for accessing tables defining the behavior of system elements, subsystem elements, and connection options;   a third user interface for defining a network of connected elements supplied in response to selecting sub-macros;   a fourth user interface for defining the physical links between the system elements and the behavior of the system and subsystem elements supplied in response to populating the selected sub-macro parameters; and,   a machine interface to supply code with parameters for loading tables into system element memories.   
     
     
         32 . The GUI of  claim 31  wherein the first user interface accesses a hierarchical set of fields, with subsystem elements being indentured to system elements; and,
 wherein the machine interface supplies code for:
 accessing a sub-table in response to indexing a table; and, 
 loading values from the sub-table in a subsystem memory. 
   
     
     
         33 . The GUI of  claim 31  wherein the first user interface accesses a switch fabric configuration macro for defining switch fabric cards, firmware processing integrated circuits (chips) on the cards, and the connections between the cards. 
     
     
         34 . The GUI of  claim 33  wherein the first user interface accesses sub-macros to hierarchically define the system level (slot number), the slot level (card type), card level (chip type), and chip level (link types and endpoint). 
     
     
         35 . A method for dynamically maintaining optimum performance levels in a system, the method comprising:
 following the elaboration of a network including connected system and subsystem elements, monitoring the network performance;   comparing the network performance to a standard;   in response to sub-standard network performance:
 automatically repopulating selected parameters in selected sub-macros defining system elements, subsystem elements, and connections there between; 
 instantiating executable code; and, 
 loading accessed tables into system elements in response to the repopulated parameters, the tables defining system element behaviors, subsystem element behaviors, and connection options. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein monitoring the network performance includes monitoring a network of switch fabric cards, firmware processing integrated circuits (chips) on the cards, and connections between the cards.